Praying like a poor man, harder than you think

I was reading Oswald Chambers My Utmost for his Highest June 9 devotion titled, For Everyone that Asketh Receiveth. Luke 11:10 http://www.studylight.org/devotionals/utm/

Study light is a great resource for Bible study. When most of us go to prayer we do not go to prayer with a perspective a of a poor man. I now live on a pension from work and Social Security. In my life giving was governed by the principle of planning and some discipline to stay within my means. Giving for me it was a joy in the spirit of unconditional love. Giving was always limited by my resources many times was joined with others who's gifts we're part of meeting a bigger need. Again most needs that I had we're met by provision and planning. I have experience a few times needs being met beyond what I could provide.

When a poor man prays he has little daily provision to plan with. The need is there but he can't meet it. So how does he pray? A poor man begs. Most of the time others then look down at him. For pity they may throw small coins his direction. Very few of the passerby's really look to do anything that might meet the need.  

In Luke 11:9 in the Greek three present imperatives in this verse (Ask…seek…knock) are probably intended to call for a repeated or continual approach before God. Lk. 11:10 repeats the (ask… seek… knock) indicated that the repeated asking God does respond. 

Matt. 5:3a The poor in spirit is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See 

Moses Tarr at Alfred Joe's home. These men are my 

friends. They are good men, better than me that is for

sure. They work hard and have trades. 

Ps 14:6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the afflicted, but the Lord is his refuge.” ; 22:24 For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.”; 

25:16 “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted.”; 

34:6 “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles.”; 40:17 “I am afflicted and needy; the Lord thinks of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.; 

69:29 ”But as for me—poor and in pain—let Your salvation protect me, God.”

When it comes to prayer many of us are in the dark about it. I have shared an extended quote from Thomas Constable writes concerning asking God to stimulate to grey cells and maybe a little bit of insight. God wants us to ask (beg) and understand our dependence on him. Many of us would balk at such idea.

Asking for Ourselves building a theology of prayer

“Some sincere Christians believe that it is selfish and not very trusting to ask God to give us anything. Some believe that praying for personal needs is more a mark of unbelief than of trust in God. After all, since God loves us perfectly will He not do what is best for us? 

Such an attitude may superficially sound very spiritual. However, it contradicts Jesus' clear teaching that God's children should ask Him for their needs (Matt. 6:11; Luke 11:1-4). It also ignores James' statement that we do not have some things from God because we do not ask Him for them (James 4:2). God not only encourages us to ask Him for what we need, but He commands us to do so. Evidently He does so to teach us to look to Him for our needs since He is our provider. 

God's responses to personal petitions teach us what we can expect when we pray this way. Sometimes God granted the request, but sometimes He did not. Sometimes He waited to give an answer. We shall investigate the conditions we need to meet for securing favorable answers to our prayers in a later chapter. For now, appreciate that often God graciously gives what we request for ourselves. 

Jesus told his disciples the parable of the persistent friend to help them realize that God will always give what is best to His children who ask Him in prayer (Luke 11:5-13). A friend may eventually give his neighbor what he needs because he is his friend. However, God is our Father, and a good father always gives his children what is best for  them at the best time. Therefore we should keep on asking in prayer, keep on seeking God's face, and keep on knocking on heaven's door. 

Fortunately God does not grant every one of our requests just because we ask. Sometimes we make foolish petitions. Moses once asked God to kill him because he felt discouraged (Num. 11:15). Fortunately God understands our situation and gives us what is best. Sometimes when old people pray for longer life God takes them home to heaven. If He does, that is best for them then.” 

A poor man ask God for $700.00 to buy an engine to put into a truck. The truck then can help the poor man who works in the trade too build cement block buildings and mason work. Having the truck gives a greater possibility for work and a livable income. God has put this poor man on my heart to help him on a regular basis. While I can plan a regular gift I have no resource for a $700.00 gift. In essence I am in the same place as the poor man. I have to look to God and ask him to provide. 

The chance to purchase the engine came and went. It did help Barbara and I to put aside what we can to have a fund to meet such needs. Our resources are limited, but I am determined to give what I can. 

I believe the request was a good request. Maybe the engine was no good? Maybe at this juncture God wanted me to understand then he would provide Beyond what I am capable? I actually him more sympathetic to the poor man's request. 

Oswald Chambers was writing around World War I. He was writing hundred years ago. Christians back then closer to day to needs. I believe back then there were many who understood the ministry of prayer. Chambers reminds us that “ask” here is meant to be beg. To be poor in spirit men somebody who was dependent on God. Here I think there are less people who have little experience with this. We are more experienced with being encouraged to be self dependent. But the first characteristics in the Beatitudes for a believer is to be “poor in spirit”. Can God care for the poor? God is given human responsibility for this we see throughout the Scriptures. In our secular progressive society we want others to pay for the poor. But do we take on our personal responsibility to do it? For arguments sake I don't think so. 

It is not wrong to steer the government to care for the poor. Franklin Roosevelt help the American people needed to know that the government cared about their suffering in the 1930s. His response did not end the depression but it gave hope. Some ideas that came from that were good and others were not as good. Government can never be big enough to take care of human need. Human effort in commerce can bring wealth and prosperity to others. If it does not listen to the Scriptures to care for fellow human; it can be rather brutal and slums result and multitudes lose hope. If we learn to invest in our fellow man and woman many more benefit. 

The biggest resource that the poor have is not government nor the rich. Their biggest resource for the poor are you and I that are closer to the poor and we can personalize our support. We can invent better ways to care for our fellows. Together we build what is needed. But we have to take personal responsibility and not just give it over to government or the rich. The biggest link we need is the Lord. Some of you may disagree with that. But the human experience is a lot closer to being poor then you can imagine.

Tools for ministry

Tools for ministry

Dr. Gene Getz

I am planning to write and create resources that can be used by my Liberian friends. But I think even a greater gift would be to give resources that I use myself. Several of you are bilingual in the Liberian languages and English. There are many online ministries that could be very helpful to you. 

Today I received an email from Dr. Gene Getz. Dr. Getz has written many helpful books and has developed a study Bible that focuses on application, Life Eessentials study Bible. You can go to his website and follow the menu to the principals listed topically or you can click the Bible link, Search by the Book and follow the principles as you read through the Bible. Right now I am reading through Isaiah and following the principles as I read in think through the book. You can get a life essentials app for your phone, tablet, or computer. You also can sign-up for Dr. Getz’ newsletter. 

May God richly bless you, Rev. Bill Reeves

http://bibleprinciples.org

Here is a sample of a video I recently viewed and was encouraged. I will update you on how this ministry will be a blessing.

http://www2.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0770/

Liberia is more to me than memories

Moses Tarr giving me a shave in 1977

I first became aware of Liberia back in the spring 1976. I was newly married and Barb had an inner ear infection and was hospitalized for nine days in St. Joe’s. I heard of an opportunity to serve as a short term missionary in a place called Liberia, West Africa. As I looked into it I thought it was something that we can do. I also thought that my wife would think call things too risky and say no. 

Moses Tarr last year
Using skills to build and lead a church

I felt pretty safe so I went to see Barbara after work. At the time I was working at St. Joe's hospital. I took the elevator up to the eighth or ninth floor where she was at and shared with her the opportunity to served as  a missionary. To my surprise she was interested and said yes that we should pray about it. Now I really had a problem, was this something we should do?

Samuel Saturday pastors

Quickly many things fell into place. Our visa which would normally take years to process was approved right away by no less than the vice president of Liberia. Louis Orta had given the vice president hospitality on one of the trips the vice president took in the interior. It was often customary for a politician to get a drink of water from a mission because water was safer. It had nothing to do with politics. They ran into each other on the streets of Monroevia and Louis ask the vice president to okay our visa. And we were set to go to Liberia for a one-year service. 

While I was preparing to go I did all I could to learn about Liberia. 

Barbara and Elaine were RNs and they would establish a clinic to serve in the area about the size the Will County. At that time we were in the bush or the jungle. I would take up to the leadership in the school and church. The mission property at the time was 300 acres. We had a football field, a school and church. We had a building that looked like a garage that was service as the clinic. Our home

Daniel Tarr we have just
last week connected

was a three bedroom mud and stick zink roof, Windows with screens and shutters. We had an out house and shower. We would build I thatch roof waiting room.

Alfred Joe still hoping to connect with

At the core of my interest in Liberia today is to help the boys who are now men ease their burdens and support them in their ministries. I am so glad these nearly 40 years later to find these follows walking with the Lord. 

They each are doing more than I did and more effectively. All of them had work to educate their children and now grandchildren. If I do nothing more than help them I am blessed.

I am praying that I improve my health and conditioning to once again return to Liberia to see for myself the obstacles in using the Internet for education and medical evaluation. I also want to see old friends and encourage what they're doing. I may never get healthy enough to do this, but I'm praying about it.

Did I make a difference in that year? It seems I did, but I'm not done yet. Keep walking

You are not alone with depression

You are not alone if you battle depression. Over 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Depression can affect anybody rich or pour. Whether you live in Europe, North America, Africa or the South Pole you can suffer from depression. Liberia has been through Civil War and political wars that lasted a long time.
War can bring on a special problem called posttraumatic stress, PST. We will explore this topic later; but it has a connection to depression.
Depression wants to tell you that only you have a problem. But the truth is many people have depression and you're not alone. People sharing together there're stories can be very helpful in overcoming depression. You can learn from each other.
Job, David, Elijah, Jeremiah all suffered depression in the Bible. Great people in history suffered from depression like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill.
Famous people from every country have suffered depression. You may know well known people in Liberia who have suffered depression.
Depression is a major health problem that can be very dangerous. We have to take it serious because many people kill themselves. Let me be clear, depression can be overcome and you can feel good again about yourself.
After two years with insomnia I suffered from depression and Anxiety. With therapy, medicine and strong family support I am overcome depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress. I also sleep very well every night now. I began to feel better rather quickly by practicing some of the things I've learned in therapy. We will talk about these things. I saw an improvement weeks before the medicine was supposed to have an effect.
I knew that God was with me and wanted to help me overcome depression. He brought good people into my life that new how to treat depression. I was his child and he loved me.
Have hope, keep walking

I got to hear the Bible in Bassa

I recently downloaded an app bible.is where there is 1243 languages where they have a translation of the Bible. I believe translations are being added daily. You can search via language, or country and they have two versions in audio. One version is dramatic with different readers doing different characters with music in the background. And the other version is just somebody reading the Bible text. Some of the languages have a written text. 

In English there were 11 versions and many of them were audio in a few dramatic. 

You can get the software and running from your computer online or download the app.

Library is made up of 16 tribal languages in the app list 15 languages. On the computer listed to languages Kpelle and Bassa. When I went under languages I was also able to find all 15 languages. 

The translations that have text that are online are divided up by traditional verses. Listening to the Bible is divided up by chapters. Both the website and the app have a translation for the hearing impaired.

Explore the website and share with your friends. Let the missionaries that you support  know about it. 

Bassa ( an audio for Bassa in Cameron, audio for Bassa in Liberia) Vai audio), Bandi (audio), Belleh (text), English (audio & text), Dan (east and west, audio and text). Greco (text), Kisi (audio), Klao (audio), Krahn audio), Krumen Tepo - Kroumen Tepo (was only in text), Lorma (audio), Mano (audio), Mende ( audio & text, there is also a Mende from Papua New Guinea)

Negative thinking is like driver ants

Dr. Daniel Amen an American psychiatrist shares another way you can fight depression is to identify and kill the ants, the Automatic Negative Thoughts that keep you feeling down. This List is from an article, Two of the Most Important Ways to Beat Depression Dec. 8, 2016

#1 All or nothing thinking – also known as black and white thinking

#2 “Always” thinking – using words like, always, never, no one, everyone, every time and everything

#3 Focusing on the negative – selectively seeing only the bad in a situation and disregarding the good things that occur

#4 Fortune telling – predicting the worst possible outcome to situations

#5 Mind reading – believing that you know what another person is thinking even though he or she hasn’t told you

#6 Thinking with your feelings – happens when you believe your feelings and don’t question them– even when there is no evidence to support how you feel

#7 Guilt beatings – thinking with words like should, must, ought and have to

#8 Labeling – calling yourself or someone else a derogatory name diminishes your ability to see situations clearly

#9 Blaming – when you don’t take responsibility for your actions, you lose your power to make changes

Try to come up within an example of each of the nine negative thoughts.

I'm going to take a look at #3 focusing on the negative. When we are depressed we actually see everything from that point of view. When it comes to ourselves always see is bad things. When you look at your day all you can recall is the bad things that happen. Those bad things are all you're thinking about.

You can help your depression by challenging each negative thought. What is not true about that negative thought? Think of three things you are thankful for. Think up two things that were good for you today. You had a meal today. Before you went to bed it started to cool off. You saw a child smile today. You saw a snake in the bush and were able to walk away from the snake. Now think of three things in your experience today that was good.

Overcoming depression isn't it easy. It is harder when you don't have today's medications. But I can tell you even if you had the best of medicine you still have to do the work at it like identifying the ants, negative thinking that we all look at. Keep walking

http://danielamenmd.amenclinics.com/1-2-punch-to-beat-depression/

I am not a doctor. But I do want you to know things that may help you with depression.

Exercise can help you with depression

Exercise can help you with depression

Good day to you my Liberian friends. When it comes to walking most Liberians are walkers. But did you know a 20, 30 minute walk done at a fast pace your brain releases many feel good chemicals that's give you a feeling of eveerything is OK according to Dr. Daniel Amen. Dr. Kenneth Cooper observe this years ago with people who are training to be long distance runners. It was called a “runners high”. 

Liberia being in a rain forest is very hot. I would encourage this walk that is fast-paced early in the morning before the sun rises above the palm trees. Make sure you drink plenty of safe water. Walking this way helps the heart, can help diabetes, and it helps your body fight illnesses. You have and immune system in your body that fights against germs, bacteria, and viruses that you cannot see but can make you very sick.

Exercise is one of the things that we do and take care of our selves. For most of us walking is easy. For Liberians, we have to find a way to walk faster for a 20-30 minute walk. Not all of our walking has to be fast-paced. It is too hot in Liberia to walk that way throughout the day. A short time in the morning or evening can't helpless to enjoy this healthy walk. Keep walking.