Orange Moon "With You In the Spirit"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe...    

 

"With You In the Spirit"

   

   I prayed for my first best friend Bruce as I awoke this morning, born 64 years ago today.

 

    I remember Bruce's birthday each year because it is close to mine on the calendar.  I haven't seen him in more than a half century, and have no idea where he is or what he is doing.  However, each year on October 28th, I pray for him that God will bless his life with the Lord Jesus Christ, be it in salvation, or in growth in the grace and knowledge of a salvation already received.  "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I Timothy 2:1).

 

   The ability to span space and time offers one of the greatest aspects of the gift of prayer.  We can spiritually touch others, asking God to reveal Himself, His truth, and His working in the lives of people far removed from us, but near to Him.  "He is not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:27).   Certainly, prayer draws us near to God.  However, it also draws us near to the ones for whom we pray.   "Thou I be absent in the flesh, I am with you in the spirit" wrote the Apostle Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 2:5).  We bestow a gift upon people by our intercession on their behalf, and are ourselves blessed by the uttering of names, the remembrance of faces, and the opportunity to remain involved in the hearts and lives of those once near, but now long removed from our presence.

 

    Wherever Bruce may be, I hope his birthday is happy.  Far more, however, I pray that he will know the Lord Jesus in this day and always, whether in the new birth, or in growth from a birth already received and experienced.  Our Lord grants to His trusting children an amazing gift, the gift of prayer, whereby we are enabled to bless those who may be but a memory in proximity, but who remain near in heart.

 

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering."

(I Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."

(Isaiah 41:10)

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