A Cloak of Love and Prayer

Good Morning Everyone,

As I read today's story written by Max Lucado,
it also brought to mind another thought.

Why are we not covering each other with a cloak
of prayer? If you know the needs of someone
and you are too busy to pray for them, who will?

Is being a Christian also a responsibility?

Is prayer a duty?

Are we to be our brother's keeper?

God thinks so. I don't see how we ever
got away from this concept. It seems to me that
we need to get back to our first love for Jesus
and live like he called us to.

The world may be lost and dying around us
and we have been neglecting not only it, and
the people we know in need, but our own spiritual life.

Why have a spiritual life if you are not going
to develop it? Who are you serving? God or yourself?

The Bible says if the gospel is hid, it is hid to those
who are LOST.

Why would we want to withhold the gospel from
someone who needs it?

Why would we want to withhold prayer time
from someone who needs it?

Oh my friends, get back to work. God needs us
to be willing servants, not absentee voters.
Not someone who votes that they are a Christian
but never does anything about it.. and just lets
people around them die spiritually from their neglectful
behavior.

This is a serious responsibility and we need
Christians to get serious about their relationship
with God and with others.

love
always
millie


"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jesus as quoted by John 13:34-35)

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A CLOAK OF LOVE - - -
by Max Lucado

Do you own a cloak of love? Do you know anyone who needs one? When
you cover someone with concern, you are fulfilling what Paul had in
mind when he wrote the phrase "love … always protects" (1 Cor. 13:4-7
NIV).

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament is known for its word
study, not its poetry. But the scholar sounds poetic as he explains
the meaning of protect as used in 1 Corinthians 13:7. The word
conveys, he says, "the idea of covering with a cloak of love."

Know anyone in need of a cloak of love?

A few years back I offered one to my daughters. The whirlwind of
adolescence was making regular runs through our house, bringing with
it more than our share of doubts, pimples, and peer pressure. I
couldn't protect the girls from the winds, but I could give them an
anchor to hold in the midst. On Valentine's Day, 1997, I wrote the
following and had it framed for each daughter:

- - - - -
I have a special gift for you. My gift is warmth at night and sunlit
afternoons, chuckles and giggles and happy Saturdays.

But how do I give this gift? Is there a store which sells laughter? A
catalog that offers kisses? No. Such a treasure can't be bought. But
it can be given. And here is how I give it to you.

Your Valentine's Day gift is a promise, a promise that I will always
love your mother. With God as my helper, I will never leave her.
You'll never come home to find me gone. You'll never wake up and find
that I have run away. You'll always have two parents. I will love
your mother. I will honor your mother. I will cherish your mother.
That is my promise. That is my gift.

Love, Dad
- - - - -

Know anyone who could use some protection? Of course you do. Then
give some.

____________________________
From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright 2002, Max Lucado