Tag: #prayer

Surviving The Second Covid Variant Wave

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Is Groundhog Day upon us? Because if you have been reading the news and the latest information on Covid with its new variants, another fall like last year with shutdowns and mandates may be upon us.  Can your family survive another pandemic season?  I also wonder what position our government will assume? A status of no action with the attitude concerning those who get sick and possibly die, get sick and die?  Or will they grow a backbone and tell the American people what they must do to stop Covid completely?  And if Americans seem not to be able to comply, then mandate it as law?  What am I saying…our government and a backbone?

Ok, enough picking on our government. My groundhog does resemble some of our officials. 

What are you doing right now to buffer yourself, your family, and humanity from another Covid season? I was vaccinated, and I wear my mask when I go out and make a few trips out as possible.  If I can protect someone else by wearing a mask, it is no big deal to me.  Of course, washing hands is an OCD area for me.  It grosses me out when someone does not wash their hands in the bathroom.  Don’t they realize they have “potty germs” on them and then on everything they touch?  Yuk! Washing your hands will definitely save humanity!

Next question, how is your mental health?  Are you able to function every day, or has all of this beaten you down?  If you feel overwhelmed, please seek help.  Whether it is a best friend to confide in, a Pastor, or a Therapist, do not let the circumstances take control of your life!  Ya’ll know me; I go to the Lord.  And some of you would laugh to hear my prayers.  They are not formal, flowery, or repetitive religious prayers.  I envision myself as a child climbing up on my Father’s lap and then laying my head against His shoulder. Snuggling in, I begin to pray. When it is Jesus and me, I see and know my Father as the lamb as He was slain.  The scars on His face and body are ever before me, and I know the price He paid for me.  It makes me very much aware of His love for me. And His reassurance that what I am experiencing today is only temporary gives me the strength and hope to move forward in life.

Of course, when I pray for others, it is different. Because that is when I come before Jesus’ throne, I lie prostrate before Him. It is an audience with the King, and He is The King. I give to Jesus my petitions with His words and promises attached. I humble myself as low as I can and pray fervently for those on my prayer list. Also, I thank Him for answered prayer, even if He did not answer it my way. 

I will pray for you; email me. All prayer is confidential. Prayer is the greatest gift to give and receive! This world needs prayer! Prayer is…

For some, the journey we call life can be extremely tough, while others breeze right on through. And the second wave of Covid variants may be a struggle for you, your family, and your friends.  I have a few suggestions that might help all of us survive and thrive this next year. First, you can set up a “check-in” session by inviting a small group over each week, sitting around a fire, talking, and maybe adding a little prayer. Second, run errands for those who can not or should not go out, have a text chain, spread love, hope, and kindness to as many people as you can during the day. Third, pray for those you see each day and do not know who are homeless and begging for money. And when you begin to feel drained, go somewhere quiet and sit with the Lord.  He wants to love on you too!

I know our world has become uncertain and frighteningly violent.  Which to those of us who study the bible, it is not a surprise.  In the days before Jesus comes to take His church back to heaven, read the book of Revelation, these events will begin to happen. It is how we endure this time that is so important. We can be servants, or we can be served. I want to be the servant! What about you?

Comments are appreciated, vulgarity deleted!

God Bless You!

A Time Will Come

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

I have been studying the book of Daniel in the bible. It is just one of Dr. Chuck Missler’s many bible studies on Audible. His ability to bring the books to life by providing historical background and future foreground keeps me engaged. And he even points out the present relevance of what was said thousands of years ago. If you want to learn and understand the Bible’s books, I highly recommend Dr. Missler’s studies.

While listening to Daniel, Dr. Missler lightly touched on a future subject during my study today, and it perked my ears. He reminded us that times are coming when our freedom of religion and speech will be diminished at first and then eliminated. It is happening now. 

So, I want to ask you some questions which I have asked myself many times. First, will the coming events, led by our own leaders, wash over and carefully conform you to their ways? Or will your faith and reliance on God be so great that you will stand for truth and righteousness?  Even if it means your persecution or even death?  I have prayed before that I will stand knowing that even in death, I have victory!

What do you think or are you rolling your eyes at me and saying, “Really, Joni, when we are going through these hard times of the pandemic, you want us to focus on our freedoms? Please let us survive this first!” And I hear you.  But it is during these times when we can focus on strengthening our faith. And, it is during these times, the powers that be will sneaky snake your liberties away from you. So, what can we do? Strengthen your faith by reading your bible and pray every day.  Then be diligent about observing your online activity and the activity of “Big Tech,” your leadership’s actions, and bring to light any wrongdoing.

When I say pray, I mean pray during the day at least three times. Did you know Daniel prayed three times a day? You are probably questioning me with statements about Daniel having the time. Daniel wasn’t some prophet nomad wandering around like our televangelist, preaching God’s words. He had a job and a very important one too. He was President over the region, first for King Nebuchadnezzar and then at 83 years of age for King Darius.  All the while doing God’s work to set the stage for Jesus’ birth and the gentile’s conversions. Something to occur in hundreds of years, even thousands.  And he stopped every day, went to his upstairs room window, facing Jerusalem, and prayed three times a day!

Don’t allow this pandemic to fatigue you into believing you do not have time! Now can you find the time to pray? I know I can do better with my praying and immersing myself in God’s word.  In the morning, after I do all of my medications and shots, I lie back down to rest away the fatigue I endure from the disease. Prayer time number one. Once I am up, I do my bible study and prayers. That is twice. And at bedtime, I can add one more prayer moment.  Three times! These will be the stopping my forward motion, earnest prayers, not the short little ones I pray during my daytime activities.  All I have to do is to continue until it becomes a habit.  

What about you? Can you find extra minutes to stop and kneel down and pray to God?  Prayer and relationship with God are how we strengthen our faith and rely upon God.  We must prepare now by laying the foundation just like Daniel did, to stand firm in the future. For the time is coming.

This bible verse is for you!

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

God Bless You.

Watch What You Pray For, College and Professional Football Teams

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

With the arrival of fall, we also usher in a season of college and professional football games. Nothing else could be more wanted at this time than a semblance of normalcy. Since the start of the games, I have noticed that some players, coaches, and teams use their very public platforms to impress upon the public their own beliefs and opinions. And they have the right to do so as an American citizen. But when a coach or a player uses prayer to convey a message of misinformation, I can not be silent.

For me, prayer is sacred, not something to throw around on a whim or to portray the impression that you have God-given supernatural powers because you pray. Prayer is the communication and communion with Yahweh, our Lord, and Savior. It is the most important thing a Christian should be doing every day, all the time. And if prayer is no more than a grandstanding activity with a look at me, I am a super Christian kind of thing, then please don’t pray.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:5 concerning prayer.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on the street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

The after-game prayer upsets me the most when they thank God for their win. These coaches present an illusion that God has chosen one athlete or one team over the other to grace with the abilities to win. Which, in turn, could make someone believe that the winning team must pray better or are better Christians than the other athletes and teams. And that God will not be a part of their lives unless they live some ultra-pure, perfect life. In a world starving for Jesus, we need to be true to His word and show people Jesus is with them, and Jesus is for them! Not a select few.

Come on, people, we are not discussing David and Goliath, the Israelites and the Egyptians, or Daniel and the Romans. We are talking about a game created by man for his enjoyment and the procurement of large sums of money. It is ludicrous to think God would have any part of an event’s playing or outcome.

I have heard the ones praying to use the excuse that they are giving God glory when they thank Him for the win. My suggestion would be to thank God for no one being hurt, thank God for a fair game, thank God for good sportsmanlike conduct, but don’t assume Yahweh gave you a win! And you don’t need to grandstand or call the media in to see and hear you pray. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us what to do when we pray.

Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

The whole situation reminds me of a Prosperity Pastor who boasted concerning his prayer request for a lear jet and that he eventually had a lear jet given to him as an answer to the prayer. Of course, he made significant announcements to his congregation and the media, so everyone knew he was praying for the jet. And, someone finally did pony up and gave him one. But could it have been Satan, who made sure he got the jet and not God? The jet seems more advantageous to Satan to keep the Pastor on track for his and his congregation’s procurement for hell than for God’s kingdom.

Now that I have aired my grievances concerning prayer and football, I want you to stop and think about your prayers. We have made so many idols today and incorporate them into our prayer life. And recently, we have seen these idols removed from our lives. The words “have to” and “must-do” integrate our language like a waterfall tumbling down a cliff. While following our desires, we would risk others’ safety and then turn around and pray for money to get our fingernails painted, dine out at a restaurant, or go to a ballgame. How many of your prayers are worthless utterances? How many are authentic communication and communion with Jesus Christ? Is it time for you to change what you pray for and how you pray?

Remember, in Matthew 6:5, when we are told the only reward the hypocrites will receive will be people seeing and hearing them pray. The other reward is the kingdom of heaven and being with Jesus for eternity. Which reward do you want, the one where people acknowledge your prayers or the one God acknowledges?

Just a thought.

God Bless You!

Prayer Breaks Shackels

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Satan and the world have distorted our vision to the point that we do not recognize the shackles that bind us. We have enslaved ourselves to hatred, political gains, religion, lifestyles, and probably a hundred other vices that give us a wearisome life. And, most people have been circling this rat wheel for so long they don’t know how to get off.

Now I know the next statement has been overused and abused within Christian communities, and I also know that I harp on praying repeatedly. It is so simple, and the world is not could be the issue with most people grasping the reality of it. But here I go again.

True freedom in life is found through a relationship with Jesus, Christ, and prayer! Not church attendance, mission trips, or community outreach, even though these are useful elements of a Christian’s life, but it can not be allowed to replace your relationship with Jesus. Did you know that there are religious leaders in America today who don’t pray or even read their bible except to do a sermon? And it is not a handful but a majority of these leaders who have been lured away by administrative work and a particular lifestyle which is now the forefront of their religion or, more accurately, idol worship.

Do not allow yourself to be caught in the busy work of Christian life, but immerse yourself in Jesus’s prayer work. Because your essential foundation of the Christian life should be reading God’s word and praying daily, everything else in your life must fall in line behind Jesus. If not, you are building a life on sinking sand, and one day it will cave in on you.

I know that prayer is the only way to survive the evils of this life, it is the only way to understand our right paths in life, and it is the only way to be a servant to others. My life before prayer and bible reading and my life after my relationship with Jesus is a light into the darkness revelation. I want the same for you now more than ever before. Because we live in the end of times, and even though we were told we would not know the date, day, and time, we were told that we would see the signs within nature and the happenings on earth. And, I feel the urgent need to keep telling you about having a relationship with Jesus. Matthew chapter 24 is the perfect chapter in the bible to read and understand what Jesus says about His return and that we must be ready! Are you ready, and is your life a reflection of what Christ wants from you?

Break free of your worldly shackles and begin reading your bible, pray every day, and walk in the garden with Jesus. For those of you who complain that you do not have enough time for prayer, how many times do you play games on your phone or computer, or visit social media sites or chat sites? Try stopping or cutting back these menial activities in your life and replace them with prayer. You are the only one who can decide what is essential to your life!

God Bless You!