To start out on a light note...taking this picture was quite a "joyful" experience! At the Mill Creek Baptist Church, where we met for our prayer and Bible study time, there is this beautiful display of the word JOY on their front stage area in the sanctuary. They originally put it up for Christmas, but it is so lovely...and "joyful", that they haven't wanted to take it down yet. So we felt it would be the perfect backdrop for our group photo. The reason I am sitting down in front looking all out of breath is because we were trying to take this picture using my delayed timing feature on my camera...and it took several "takes" before we actually got the timing right and I was able to get into place before the camera snapped the photo. I won't post all the photos that didn't quite make it...trust me, this is the best!
We were in a very joyful and spiritually blessed frame of mind when we took this picture. Our "meeting" today started out gathered around the piano/prayer bench, with a time of fervent prayer and anointing with oil (according to James 5:13-16) of one of our dear ladies who is scheduled for some surgery next week.
James 5:13-16
13. "Is anyone among you suffering?
Let him (her) pray.
Is anyone cheerful?
Let him (her) sing psalms.
14. Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him (her), anointing him (her)
with oil in the name of the Lord.
15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick,
and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins,
he will be forgiven.
16. Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (woman)
avails much."
Another scripture that we shared with each other was Matthew 18:19-20 ~ The Words of Jesus Christ:
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning
anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in My Name,
I Am there in the midst of them."
After this time of prayer for our sister in the Lord, we also lifted up several others who are in serious need of healing and prayer at this time...one dear friend in particular who has been (and still is) in a hospital for several months and who needs the healing hands of Jesus to touch her body, soul and spirit. Following this time of prayer, we joined together in singing this beautiful song, which was new to most of us, but Oh! What a powerful and precious message! I have linked a video of The Perrys singing this song for you. You may want to watch the video and sing along here...and I believe you will also be blessed by this song of great faith and encouragement:
Click HERE for "By Faith I Can Touch Him Now" by The Perrys
One day I will stand in the presence of Jesus
and I'll see the Lord face to face
With my very eyes, I'll witness his Glory
when I finally finish my race
But the burdens of life sometimes get so heavy
that I need to touch Him somehow
But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven
By faith I can touch Him now.
I can reach out and touch the hem of His garment
I know he will make me whole
For He's passing by this very moment
Can you feel the virtue that flows
Someday I will walk through the gates of that city
By grace I will make it somehow
But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven
By faith I can touch Him now.
I will fall at His feet in the presence of angels
and millions of saints around the throne
I'll worship the Lord and sing hallelujah
without all the trouble I've known
Then I'll see those hands that lifted my burdens
and I'll see those scars on his brow
But I don't have to wait until I get to Heaven
By faith I can touch Him now.
Following this time of prayer, praise and worship, we shared further scriptures with each other...especially from James 1:17-25. Verse 17 says:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights,
with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning..."
Also these words of exhortation:
verse 19-20: "So then, my beloved brethren (sisters),
let every man (woman) be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath...
For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Verse 22: "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves."
These lessons in God's Word helped us to see that we need to be quick to listen to God's Word, and then to put into practice that which we are being taught as we listen and learn.
Following this we headed out for a new (to most of us) restaurant in a neighboring community.
We found Ivie's Country Cafe in Orange Springs to be a delightful little place with good food and a comfy, country atmosphere typical of our life out here in the "woods".
I love that they proudly displayed our American flag along with the pictures of some of the wildlife from the forest.
And our waitress took a moment from her busy schedule to take our picture at the table before we left. We had a great time, and will definitely be back to this place again... ( we don't have a lot of choices out in the woods where we live without having to travel a long distance...so we appreciate our few local cafe's)
I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on this prayer-filled, joyful journey today! This would definitely be a good example of a "good gift and perfect gift from above, from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." The gift of Godly fellowship and praying sisters in Christ is a very good gift indeed!
