"Teach Us How to Pray" Part 6

                                                                  NOTE:

Hi! I know I haven't been writing on the blog as much as I like lately. I have been working on writing my first book for the last year. I hope to have it finished by the end of this year. I had no idea what I was getting into, yet I am lovin' every minute of it. I will be introducing the book as it nears completion. 

Alrighty then...

 The Lord's Prayer. This segment reads "Give us this day our daily bread..."

 When I approached this phrase, I immediately researched the word bread. I found in the New Testament Greek it is the word "artos." The English translation for this word is loaf, like in a loaf of bread. To be precise artos is in plural form and means loaves of bread. If this is an accurate translation, I have to wonder, "Man, Jesus sure isn't bashful at dinner!"

 As I contemplated this word artos, I thought: "Who would want to eat loaves of bread at one sitting or even for an entire day?" Then I thought "Wait a minute, maybe this amount of bread isn't just for me."
 John Wesley, early founder of the Methodist church states receiving this bread acknowledges 2 things, 1) we are ever dependent and indebted to His mercy, and 2) we should share the bread we have with others in the same manner Christ Jesus is faithful to feed us (me).
 In some Christian circles "our daily bread" is related to manna from the Old Testament. Manna was a unique bread because it could not be kept overnight (except on Sabbath), lest it would spoil. Each day the Israelites would depend on Him to bring them fresh manna.
 Others have indicated "our daily bread" is referring to our needs here...in our daily lifestyles and surroundings.  Martin Luther in his "Small Catechism" instructions, kind of cracked me up. He included daily bread to include food, clothing, home, property, work, income, family, community, good government, favorable weather, peace, health, good name, true friends, and good neighbors. And that was just the first paragraph...lol.
 John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian church submits: "that by asking God for daily bread we are exercising humility and reverence, recognizing we are not the source of our existence, rather, God is, and our total dependency is on Him." Any student of Calvin would be shouting
"Amen" when reading this quote.

 Yet, I like what another liturgical church founder wrote, a guy I deeply admire. He is referred to as Saint Augustine. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church and lived in the 4th century A.D. He wrote his response to this phrase of the Lord's Prayer starting with a question. " If God promised a Kingdom, then would He not provide the things necessary to sustain His Kingdom?" 
 Okay, Saint Augustine has got me thinking here. Somehow this question makes sense to me. Here are my thoughts. Our present day U.S. military, when they are sent to war , their daily routine of food, clothing. ammunition, guns, vehicles, etc are expected without question. Our government are not sent daily reminders the men are needing food, clothing, weapons, etc. for the next day or the day after. 
 Yet, if our military units capture an area of territory, like a town or city, it would not be unusual for them to request supplies for those living in these areas. Food, clothing, and numerous items would be requested to help others who had been held in captivity.
 So, if we who are but earthen vessels can provide provisions, freedom, and help to others, how much more does our Heavenly Father do for us? ( Matthew 7:9 )

 My conclusion? Our "daily bread" is not about me, it's about giving me the bread I need to help others.
 One more thing....Jesus used the same Greek word "artos" when He spoke and said: " I am the Bread of Life."

"The Lord's Prayer"

 As I continue on this study of The Lord's Prayer, I was going to wait till after I concluded my study before offering my own version of this prayer. Yet, after I thought about it...why not now? lol

 The Lord's Prayer has been a lifelong bewilderment to me. He taught this prayer to His disciples before they were aware of the upcoming crucifixion, before His resurrection, and before the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. 
 As time passed, the disciples learned how to approach "Our Father" in similar prayer patterns. There seems to be no recorded evidence instructing us to say this prayer by memorization, yet the principles in this prayer gives us direction as to where our hearts should be.
 One bewilderment for me was the use of praying this particular prayer by memory. Often in this frame of mind, we don't always understand the depth of this prayer nor the potency of what we are reciting. I  thought this prayer was more like words in a connotation and when we are finished, "Poof!", everything magically changes. 
 Yet those thoughts have been put to rest as I realize The Lord's Prayer is an important part of the Sacred Scripture, and Joshua in the Old Testament, right before the Israelites were to enter the Promised Land, did indeed instruct them to contemplate His Word day and night.
  Charles Spurgeon, the great evangelist in the mid 1800's shared his thoughts on the subject in this light. He wrote " I do not think I will regret whether I recited The Lord's Prayer enough times before I die, but I will regret not taking the time to know Him better." I think The Lord's Prayer gives us an opportunity...to know Him better.  
 One other bewilderment I had was the ending of this particular prayer. Early Greek historians and early church fathers gave no reference to the doxology of The Lord's Prayer. In fact, in the early 2nd century Tertullan, a writer and early saint of the Christian faith, wrote in no uncertain terms this prayer ended here: "...deliver us from evil."
 It wasn't until late in the 2nd century or perhaps early in the 3rd, scriptural texts began including this prayer as recorded in Saint Matthew and Saint Luke.

 On the other hand, I don't think the doxology is wrong or should not be included in the grand finale of The Lord's Prayer, it just came a little later. Did Jesus say this in the original prayer He was teaching His disciples?...probably not.
 This doxology is a fine addition and we find its origin is in 1 Chronicles 29:11, a Davidic Doxology, written 800+ years before Jesus arrived in a manger. I think this doxology brings a poetic justice, like a "cymbal effect" at the end of an orchestrated musical piece. Besides, who can argue with those words: "...for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever!"

 I would just encourage all to take this prayer and follow its pattern, create your own thoughts and words as you read His, and above all, let it generate from your own heart.

 Here is my version:

 "Our Father, who resides in Heaven
   Yet heaven cannot contain You!

  I take this time to give You the highest place in my    heart. 
  I place You above anyone, including myself,
 Above any desire or want I may have,
 Above any plan or purpose I am choosing to do,
 I yield to Your Throne which is utmost in my heart,
And one You so richly deserve.

I open my heart and welcome Your kingdom
To find its home in me
And because You have chose to reside here,
I give praise and glory...to You.

May Your will be accomplished in my life,
The very same will You have already declared in Heaven.
Give to me the bread I need to help others
This very bread coming directly from You
And now You have entrusted me, 
To serve others and give strength
In their time of need.

As I learn from You to forgive others
The hurts, the shame, and all the pain
I face in life,
Accept my plea for forgiveness,
When I have hurt others...including You.

Allow my heart
Not to give in or be overtaken
By temptation,
And deliver me from evil
That is surely out to destroy me."

Amen 

"Teach Us How to Pray"...Part Five

Continuing on the "Lord's Prayer, the phrase "On earth as it is in Heaven" is the next segment to study.
 Jesus had just spoke and asked for God's will to be done in this prayer, and now He asks God's will be done here, on earth as it is already being done in Heaven.
 Two things to consider: 1) His disciples were like many in Israel during that time, they too were looking for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel from Roman occupation. This is precisely why Palm Sunday became such a celebrated affair. 2) Jesus makes this strong statement in the earthly domain of the Evil One, Satan, who had already proclaimed himself the Prince of this domain (earth). I would conclude Satan had a 24/7 watch on Jesus, and perhaps was right there among them as Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray. Was Jesus making a Declaration of War on this domain of Darkness as He was teaching on prayer? One could conclude that is exactly what He was doing.
 Yet hindsight is clear, Jesus had not arrived to save Israel from Roman occupation. He came to destroy the power of Darkness. The kingdom of Darkness was then and still  today out to destroy any attempt by mankind to have a friendship with God...that is, until He arrived and advanced the Kingdom of God...His way. His instructions are laid out specifically in this prayer.

 So how is this "On earth as it is in Heaven" thing suppose to work?

 In the Gospel of Luke, an interesting event had occurred which is described in Luke 4: 18-21.  Jesus was attending service in a local synagogue. He was given opportunity to read the Sacred text in scroll form. He read from the book of Isaiah and orally proclaimed: " The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. Those oppressed are to be released (immediately) and proclaim this as the time of the Lord's favor. "
 After Jesus had concluded this reading, the scroll was rolled up, returned to the attendant, and He sat down. Everyone had their eyes fixed upon Him. He then spoke again and said: " Today, this ancient Scripture written by Isaiah centuries before, has now been fulfilled in this very synagogue, on this very day." God's will on this earth as it has been proclaimed in Heaven, has now arrived. 

 God's will on earth is to do the very things Jesus had announced. As His Kingdom arrives in our hearts, we are to distribute this message according to the instructions given in this passage in Isaiah. When pain surrounds us, we are to bring His healing and comfort. Where suffering looms, we are to offer relief through His love for those in such a state. Where injustice is prevalent, we stand for what is right, offering solutions during such times of adversity. Most of all, we are to share with others the good news of the Gospel. The good news is this: He is alive and has come to restore our friendship to God, whom Jesus now teaches us in this prayer, we can call Him "Our Father."  

The Sacred Scriptures are viewed, studied, and translated in various methods. One way of interpreting the Scripture is by "painting a picture" in the mind of the reader. Eugene Peterson's "The Messenger" is a version of Scripture that uses this style.
 Hebrews 2:15 in "The Messenger"reads: " By embracing Death, taking Death right into Himself, He destroyed all the devil's strongholds and freed all those who cower through this life, scared to death...of Death."
 God's will on earth is accomplished when we surrender to His way of life. When we invite Him into our hearts and commit our lives to accepting the ways of His kingdom above all else in our lives here on earth, then we have opened the door for His will to be done on earth...through us!

 In Mathew 16 Jesus pressed His disciples asking them: "How about you?...Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied: " You are the Christ, the Messiah, and You are the Son of the living God!" 

  The will of God...has come to earth.

"Perhaps Ephemeral, Certainly Loquacious"

  Sometimes in my humble writings I find myself asking : "Where am I going with all this?"
I simply might need a time-out in what I think and do. Some refer to this as a writer's block while others say it is a time to just step away.
 I have found comfort during these times to ask myself questions about life...without having answers to the questions I may indeed ask.
 Ephemeral is an adjective I have chose to express this present state. The definition is simply "to last a very short time, like a popular fashion."
 The other word I chose "loquacious," also an adjective that means "to be quite talkative to the point of of being excessive in doing so."
 I think I just may be a mood when I need to slow life down "a tad."

 The following is a writing that I do not know whether to categorize it as a poem or a series of random thoughts, so I guess I will refer to this as a "Random Poem." I hope you enjoy!

                                                 "Perhaps Ephemeral, Certainly Loquacious"

 If songs and notes do not play in our minds,
How do geese fly south with such grace and rhyme?
What does a song have to do with a person's soul?
If the song is real, then is your soul?
If it is true the Prince takes our sad songs we sing,
Is it the words He changes or the chords on the strings?
If we seek music that is uplifting and sweet,
Is it best to have an ear trained to listen, or a voice that sings?

If life is a game that is extremely hard to play,
When the game is over, don't we lose anyway?
If my dreams are exotic, unique, and not always about me,
How did I end up on this empty parking lot with one barren tree?
If being lucky and strong are pillars in life,
Are faith and hope on the sidelines, cheering us on?

If I do not seek revenge in my dealings in life,
Is there a Day of Reckoning to quench the thirst and strife?
When despair makes its presence in those dark alleys and pubs,
Does he choose favorites, or befriends the foolish, the wise, the old, and the young?
Why does Darkness hide
When one offers a warm and genuine embrace?
Why do we plant a seed a seed to watch a beautiful flower come from the earth,
Only to see it die and leave one's soul to bleed?

The various paths our shoes have traveled,
Are they not covered in duct tape from tragedy or wear?
Is it best to end a vigil when you hear the drums of defeat,
Or join the ranks of the silent with violins of peace?
If fear simply wants you to die,
Is death the lost key that opens our hearts to come alive?
Are you sure you really want your dreams awakened?
Is it really worth that kind of chance?
If love covers a multitude of sins,
What happens to the rest of them?

In order to be famous and have poets write of you,
don't the gods have to show interest in what you do?
Have you ever stopped to think what exactly brought the pain,
Only to forget to start life again?
What if I climb every mountain, ford every stream, and follow every rainbow,
Only to find I am now lost?

If you are asked "Are you a good person?", and you say "Yes,"
Then you are asked "Are you corrupt?", and again you say "Yes."
What are you?

Kipling once wrote"Words are mankind's greatest drug."
Is silence a word or is it a drug?
If strength is to be found in a most unlikely place,
Did Anne Frank's diary give strength a face?
If the life in our years is what is important to Lincoln,
Can one be dead yet still living?
If who I am demands a boundary,
Is it right for another to get angry?
A spectacular waterfall is beautiful to view,
Does a gentle stream bring any virtues?

One more question and my thoughts for now will need rest...Wait!, make that two questions:
1. How can one speak of a home they have never been?
2. If our lives would never change, be it better or sometimes worse,
    Would the words yesterday, today, or tomorrow be found or understood?

Listen, "Tis some visitor" I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door. Only this and nothing more."

"Words!... a most powerful drug!"

Rudyard Kipling wrote:

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."

 In a recent class I attended, a poet named Mary Fell was the guest speaker. She was fascinating as she shared how to express vivid thoughts on paper. I am not a poet yet she brought to light how to write things that invoke thought. In her book "The Persistence of Memory", Fell poetically writes about various subjects we see and experience in life like " let us pour darkness into a dish and set it on fire, bless those who labor as we pray, praise God his holy name, strike for rest." Another sobering thought stems from a deep tragedy in life, " A cold rain comforts the sky. Everything ash-colored under the clouds. I take my place in the crowd..."

 Sometimes I feel like "Asia" when Kipling wrote: " Asia is not going to be civilized after the methods of the West. There is too much of Asia and she is too old."

 One exercise in this class with Mary Fell was to take approximately a half an hour and do a walk through a nearby woods or park. While walking of your designated choice, take a small notepad and pen and simply jot down what you feel, what you see, and what you experience, return to the class and read orally what you have written. 
 I did not go to a woods or park to perform this exercise, I had to go to Walmart (lol) to pick up some medicine. It is here I found some thoughts to write down and practice a more vivid form of writing.
 Her then is what I shared in this class:

" A man in a wheelchair with his eyes gazed upon his wife, trusting her to choose...the right container of strawberries."

"A little girl brings a new toy to show her Mommy. The Mommy's eyes were tender and displayed a sensitive passion as she calmly spoke and said: "No."

" A lady at the register smiles as I pass by, lowering her head, perhaps hoping I would not be there when she looked up once more."

" A woman wears a one piece suit with so many various zebra stripes, I became dizzy."

" A man standing in a check-out line, looking aimlessly, yet his eyes were looking forward, as if he were viewing...another world."

" A rather short man with his arms filled to the brim with a box of cupcakes, toilet paper, bags of chips, and a package of meat, suddenly extends the lower part of his right arm and reaches out with his fingers extended...to retrieve an apple."

" Oh, no, not again! Where is my vehicle? I raised my hand with my car keys enclosed. A man shouts "Lose your car?" as I hear the delightful sound of the horn from my vehicle."

" A slender elderly lady dressed in a black dress to her ankles. looking for someone while she stood with her cart full of groceries.  She pause, turns her head toward my direction...searching."

 Mary Fell is a poet who has received national attention. Her book is a goodread and available for approximately $8.00 in paperback, will encourage you to have a grateful heart in a new and adventurous way. 
 Oh, I really enjoyed her class as well.

Kipling also wrote: "The first condition of understanding a foreign country...is to smell it."

"Suddenly I found myself...at Heaven's Gate"

As I continue my journey in life and respond to His call "Follow Me", the definition of sin and how we escape it comes in various formats within the Christian church. Our western culture in particular seems to have a long and drawn out map with different trails on what we need to do when our journey in life comes to an end and we are standing at Heaven's Gate.  It appears to me the big concern at "the Gate" will be if we are in sin (dirty, infected, diseased, malnourished), or are we clean (no sin at all  and our hearts pure)?

 Sin? How do we actually deal with it? What is sin exactly? Are certain sins worse than others? Are there various consequences to sin in our lives? Most importantly, how do we get rid of it?...or can we? 
 I don't think there will be a broom or carpet at Heaven's doorstep where we can "sweep it under the rug". I don't think there will be a mirror available where we can check our clothing, make sure our hair is combed, or if our teeth are clean. I don't see myself clearing my throat, standing erect, having a nice smile, or making direct eye contact when the door opens and I say "Hi!" I won't have my vehicle with me, I won't have any cash or credit cards, and it is a one-way ticket: everything I own, my residence, and all I have done in my life...is left behind, forever. Honestly I don't know any of this for sure, it is strictly my opinion. Oh, is Saint Peter at the gate? I have no idea.

 Here is what I do know at this point in life. In the letter to the Romans, Paul gives "new instructions" on how we are to be received in Heaven and more importantly, the requirements needed to "get past the gate."

                                              A Gleaning from Romans 3: 21-24 

 " In our time, something new has been added. God has given us a new way to live life in Heaven with Him. The old ways of trying to keep the Law as Moses commanded, the Old Testament prophets testifying to the importance of these Commandments, or the constant struggle to find ways to be "good enough" to pass through Heaven's Gate...have now changed!
 Through Christ Jesus we have new instructions. The Commandments from Heaven upon entering has now only one requirement and in this all men are treated by God alike. This requirement totally acquits us of any sin within us and the Lord of Heaven announces us "not guilty". ( Note: this reminds me of the old frontier days when someone would come to the main gate and the watcher of the gate would proclaim "Are you friend or foe?").
 The requirement or condition needed to receive this acceptance is...the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of Heaven's very own and only Son. Specifically, to pass through Heaven's Gate and be acceptable is dependent on...Do we know Him?...the Lord Jesus. Have we surrendered our hearts to Him in our journey on earth and did we attempt to develop a personal trust, a confidence, and a practice to put our reliance in Him and what He has commanded us to do?

 The beauty of receiving this new instruction is the Lord of Heaven no longer makes any distinction as to which culture or family of mankind we originated. He will accept everyone...who has accepted His Son into their lives.

 Mankind has a long and sorry history in regards to sin, proving we are utterly incapable of living a life that honors the great God of Heaven. As a result, God's will for us is not fulfilled in our various journeys in life, our own merits simply can not achieve that.
 The truth is, every person since the beginning of mankind has embraced sin and sin denies the Presence and Glory of God in our daily lives.
 Yet out of compassion and unselfish generosity, Christ Jesus took it upon Himself, exiting Heaven's Gate and coming to rescue us. Through the work at the Cross Christ alone has restored us and put us in right standing with His Father in Heaven...who we now can call "Our Father."
 Christ Jesus completely got mankind out of the mess it was in concerning sin, and now He stands at Heaven's Gate...for He is the Gate, and we all enter through Him. This is the way Christ Jesus wanted it all along, not be entangled in sin, rather to be with Him, and give glory to..."Our Father."
 In the same manner, just as we will enter Heaven through Him, we must allow Him entrance into our own hearts presently, that His Kingdom can operate and fulfill God's will in our lives through our journey in this life.
 This is now the official instruction of the Sacred Scriptures.

 "All Hail to the King!"

"Teach Us How to Pray"...Part Four

   As I continue on the most popular of all Christian prayers, Jesus moves yet in another direction. He now makes this statement: "Thy will be done..." Hmmm?

   God's will. How many different ways have I heard this rationalized in my lifetime? To say the least, many. I have found this particularly true during adverse situations. Phrases like "Why did this happen?" or "How could this end up like this?" are heard from the lips of hearts who are discouraged or even in pain. Then the mysterious yet all-inclusive answer comes from another: "God moves in mysterious ways." For many, God's will becomes nothing more than a mere fog, a mirror broken in so many pieces we can't see the reflection, or hanging on to a hopeful thought.  It is like being encouraged to blow out candles on a birthday cake after closing your eyes and making a wish.  As a result, I am really not sure what Jesus is saying here.

   What exactly then is... God's will?

   In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Saint Paul defines for us what God's will is.

 Historians think Saint Paul wrote to the church  around 51 A.D. He had left the city of Thessalonica abruptly due to Jewish persecution and escaped to Corinth. The city was a seaport of Macedonia in Greece. The Christian church located in this city was quite evangelistic and excited about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some historians equally conclude the church at Thessalonica may have been only a few months old when they received this letter from Saint Paul.
 One thing to note in regards to these believers: they did not realize some of their own would be killed for choosing to believe in Christ Jesus. These new believers in Him thought Jesus was coming back soon...like real soon, long before their lifetime had concluded. 
 Paul loved this group of believers...deeply.

                     A Gleaning from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

" Make this your goal, your benchmark to pursue in this life: find contentment with your faith in Him and practice the art of a glad and grateful heart. Always make this a concerned effort to the point it becomes a continual and ongoing attitude in your lives.
 Have the same mindset in prayer: learn to pray in a continuous manner throughout the day and do not allow circumstances you face dictate when you pray...pray anyway!
 As you practice this and it becomes a part of you, you will know for yourselves what the will of God is; giving purpose, meaning, and His direction to your lives.
 This is the key to receiving His joy in your hearts, not being dependent on any circumstances or scenarios, and when His return does arrive, He will receive you with His open arms!"

 Like other things we learn in life: a career, a hobby, or special talents you have been blessed with, we have to practice so our passions and pursuits are developed and we can truly enjoy what we endeavor to do. 
 In this prayer Jesus is teaching His disciples, He has given us the "go sign"...we can pray "thy will be done..." Saint Paul confirms it and gives us advice on how to achieve it.

{ Note: Another reflection to the will of God in our lives is during the time a family member passes. Shortly afterwards there is normally a time designated for all to gather and hear the "reading of the will."
  It is customary at this reading for family members, friends, etc. to receive the desires and instructions of the deceased including the designation of inheritance and to whom these things go.
 Martin Luther once wrote in reference to this phrase "Thy will be done..." in this manner: "Let the purpose and pursuit of His kingdom...flourish in me."

 I think as a Christian Jesus left with us a "reading of His will" through the thoughts and passages of the Sacred Scripture. Saint Paul writes from the letter to the Romans in chapter 12:2   "Receive a new attitude, new ideals, so we can experience ourselves what is the good and acceptable will of God." This inheritance we have been given includes His promises to us as designated in Scripture. }