Faith & Grace Today

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Matthew 6:9 (NKJV) So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Luke 11:2 (NKJV) Many Christians know that the key to feeling close to God and hearing from Him is through the opportunity and gift of having a personal relationship with Him. Though we may see God in different roles in our lives at different times, many of us enjoy a “primary” relationship designation with Him. Some see Him primarily as their best friend, some as a guide and comforter, and the list goes on. In my personal relationship with God, I see Him “primarily” as a Father; my father. And the longer I am a mother, a parent, the more I see His parental role in my life, and the more I see how much of a spiritual child I really am. Let me tell you a story… In 1994, my family relocated from our home in the Windy City [...]

This week we have a three-fold prayer mission. Every day this week, in addition to our regular prayer, we will pray for: A Family Member Who Doesn’t Live with You A Complete Stranger An Enemy A Family Member Who Doesn’t Live With You Often times we allow ourselves to get out of touch with distant relatives. And the term distant is relative. It’s very common in this day and age, to have relatives who live in the same city or town that we just don’t take the time to keep up with anymore. If that’s the case for you, that family member can be considered a distant relative for this exercise. If possible, try to pick a new distant relative each week. See if you notice how your concern for them grows. See if you start to wonder how they’re doing and how they’ve been. See if you decide to maybe pick up the phone and give them a call, or drop them an email, or send them a card. My mother always liked the sayin, “Give me my flowers while [...]

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[a] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NKJV) I love it when I hear little kids say, “So-in-so is my Bestest Buddy!”. It’s so endearing, and it really reveals the ranking of their best-BEST friend… As a child, and actually all throughout her life, my “Bestest Buddy” was my mom. And the older I got, the more I could see it, feel it, and appreciate it. She was my Bestest Buddy because she loved me unconditionally and always told me the truth, good or bad, because she always had my best interest at heart; because [...]

Many of us are familiar with both the term and the movie “Pay It Forward” For those of you who aren’t, the concept is that when someone does something awesome for you, you honor that kindness by doing something wonderful for someone else, ie. pay it forward. And it just keeps going and growing. Well this week, were going to do something even more spectacular; we’re going to pray it forward! Not only are we going to spend each day this week praying for someone else. We are only going to pray for others this week! That’s right not one prayer for ourselves. Well, at least we aren’t going to pray for ourselves. You may have friends or family members who also are a part of the Monday Mission, if so, you my receive more prayer and spiritual support that you ever expected, and than you have in a while. Why? Let me explain it this way, by referencing another movie. Do you remember the opening scene of “It’s A Wonderful Life”? It began by only [...]