I have begun to learn that prayer becomes easier when I make it more of a conversation with God, rather than a formal request like applying for a loan or government grant. This article helps explain the benefits of conversational prayer. From Stand to Reason………..
The trick for me is to learn to pray before I get too much over my head! From OpentheBible.org………
https://openthebible.org/article/are-you-in-over-your-head-rely-on-prayer/?s=09
The role of Jesus’ parables
Jesus teaches contextually and concretely, from the immediate surroundings, if possible, or at least from events of ordinary life. This is seen in his well-known use of the parable—which, from its origin in the Greek word paraballein, literally means to throw one thing down alongside another. Parables are not just pretty stories that are easy to remember; rather, they help us understand something difficult by comparing it to, placing it beside, something with which we are very familiar, and always something concrete, specific.
From The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. Copyright © 1997 by Dallas Willard. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Here is a timely article in light of Hurricane Ian in Florida. From Crosswalk.com…………
https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/why-god-5-things-to-remember-when-natural-disasters-hit.html
The fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit simply is the inner character of Jesus himself that is brought about in us through the process of Christian spiritual formation. It is the outcome of spiritual formation. It is “Christ formed in us.” It is called “fruit” because, like the fruit of trees or vines, it is an outgrowth of what we have become, not the result of a special effort to bear fruit. And we have become “fruitful” in this way because we have received the presence of Christ’s Spirit through the process of spiritual formation, and now that Spirit, interacting with us, fills us with love, joy, peace. . . .
From The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship. Copyright © 2006 by Dallas Willard. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
https://link.biblegateway.com/view/5ef563cdde770e7b86421930hdfav.cbs/b8a0ffaf
The cares of this world, along with our own individual and family struggles, are more than enough to drag anyone down to the pits. But we can find strength and resilience through Christ. From Crosswalk.com……….
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-be-resilient-when-the-news-is-a-mess.html
This very fine article from the late theologian J.I. Packer makes a very important point: It is possible to know a lot about God, but still not really know God. From Monergism.com……….
https://www.monergism.com/reformation-theology/blog/knowing-god-or-knowing-about-god
What this article is about is whether or not we can “over imagine” what Heaven is like. Answer: We cannot truly imagine how wonderful and peaceful and joyful our existence in Heaven will be! From Eternal Perspectives Ministries………
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2022/09/hyperimaginative-about-heaven/
That doesn’t mean that some parts of Scripture are not more of a challenge to read and receive inspiration, but since the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, it contains innumerable treasures! From Knowable Word……..
https://www.knowableword.com/2016/08/08/the-bible-is-not-boring/
This is an interesting article. The New Testament exhorts believers to bear one another’s burdens, but what responsibility do we have to share our burdens? From Gospel Coalition……
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