February 7, 2007

Good morning and the Captain says a nice kitty hello too! We seem to be on the foggy side today and it’s supposed to be on the colder side again. Do you ever envision calamities inside your mind? That is one of my recurring problems; a descent into the maelstrom so to speak. Anything can start them, a feeling inside, a pain here or there, even a nice day or a sound of some type. The fight or struggle to take stock of my blessings and rest peacefully in the Lord goes on moment by moment. Pride would try to tell me that this problem is uniquely mine and that no one could possibly know how I feel. However, as with every other problem that I have faced, communication reveals this to be a false assumption. Many face a life of anxiety and in Christ we can find rest, even on this earth. We do not like to speak about our problems, but communication invariably reveals that we are not alone. Support groups exist on the Internet for any conceivable illness or condition. Doctors, therapists, nurses, and alternative healers specialize in a great variety of treatments, some scientific and others right along the lunatic fringe. There are those who would make a quick bit of money and have nothing real to offer, but the great majority of those in the healing arts have one thing in common; they very much want to help solve the medical and psychological problems that cause suffering in so many people. For those things that human healers cannot solve and for even that which they can, God offers the power of prayer to us.
There is great power in the prayer of many for one in need. We have gathered together even in cyberspace and brought the healing power of prayer to several of those in need. Take a moment and pray for each other today; someone may have a problem they are guarding, trying to keep it for themselves. Is it strange to think of a problem being jealously guarded like a bit of treasure? In the world that happens quite often, we are trained to hide our weakness lest someone take advantage. It can be very difficult to set aside pride and ask for prayer for ourselves. I know that some of you have felt that reluctance to share a problem. The “I can handle this” mentality where the prince of this world would have us to pridefully soldier on; counting on our own self to handle the problem and not seeking relief in a close relationship with Christ. What is the best way to handle that pride? Throw it away and confess your pride to Jesus. Admitting your need for help and prayer is throwing away pride! Today, I will take that step, please pray for me, and pull my mind back from that maelstrom. Pray for each other again, I know that I am not the only one to have this problem. Pray that each of us would have the courage to admit our problems to Christ and to each other. In Christ no one need go it alone.

God bless you,

Bucky