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Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?

Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?

by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

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Have you ever tried to share your Christian beliefs with someone, and feel you couldn’t get through to them—no matter what you say? They adamantly refuse to hear anything about God or religion. Their callousness might be foreign to you, and even scare you to the point of being fearful of ever talking to them again.

It happens all the time. We may be genuinely interested in a person’s spiritual well-being, and it breaks our heart when we are ignored, criticized, or made fun of for our beliefs just because we try to talk to them about God.

Many reasons abound as to why some people do not have an interest in hearing about God. Maybe it is because they don’t see us living out the Christian life. Maybe it is because they have encountered negative experiences within the church or with Christians. Or, maybe, it is because they have made a conscious decision to avoid all conversations about God or the Bible.

Many times, our mere words cannot express our feelings, thoughts, and beliefs as well as our actions can. If you find your talking gets you nowhere, God may be leading you to switch over to using actions instead of words to show your love to others.

God Uses Our Actions

God used Ezekiel in a “different way” to fulfill his calling in the beginning of his ministry.

In the first half of the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel, we see Ezekiel using actions solely (instead of words) to convey God’s message to the people. The Israelite exiles in Babylon became so desensitized and hard-hearted they would not listen to the word of God being proclaimed by the true prophets. So God commanded Ezekiel to take a different approach—an action approach.

God was so serious about using Ezekiel’s actions to communicate His words that He shut Ezekiel’s mouth for a period of seven years, allowing Ezekiel to speak only when and what he was commanded.

Instead of talking, Ezekiel was called to use what author Warren Wiersbe calls “action sermons”. The people had been warned verbally about their sinful behavior over and over to no avail. But now it was time for actions to take over. Many times, our actions can be what causes people to listen to us.

In Ezekiel 4, God commanded Ezekiel to: write on brick, put up an iron wall, prepare food, and to lay on both his left and right side to show what He wanted to get across to the exiles who had become isolated and distant from God.

Ezekiel sketched a map of Jerusalem on a brick and began playing soldier with the brick to show the House of Israel that the city of Jerusalem would be seized by the Babylonian army. He was then commanded by God to lie on the ground on his left side facing his brick for 390 days and then 40 days on his right side. Many commentaries use these mathematical calculations to show the years of Israel’s past sins and the years that Israel spent in the wilderness with Moses.

This kind of symbolism continues as Ezekiel continues acting out the horror and devastation of what was to come to Jerusalem. Later, the Lord asked Ezekiel to mix 3 different grains and 2 vegetables together to make bread. Scarcity of food was upcoming and Ezekiel was called to caution the people what was to come upon Jerusalem. The people had been warned of their heresy and separation from God with words before, but now God has chosen Ezekiel to use symbols and actions to show His disgust with their disobedience.

Now you son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you and inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem. Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise up a ramp, pitch camps and place battering rams against it all around. Then get yourself an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This is a sign to the house of Israel. “As for you, lie down on your left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year. Then you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it. Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege. “But as for you, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt, put them in one vessel and make them into bread for yourself; you shall eat it according to the number of the days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days (Ezekiel 4:1-9).

Have you ever thought maybe we have talked too much—sometimes until we are blue in our collective face—trying to get God’s message into the hearts of our friends, family or acquaintances?

Maybe it is time to try “action sermons!”

Through our actions sermons, people may see something different in us that will lead to a discussion on our faith. We may even be privileged to share in the joy of their salvation.

While God uses our actions, He is also quite capable and willing to use our speech and words to convey His intended will and plans.

Let us not forget that God can use us in many ways—both verbally and through our actions.
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God Uses Our Words

But, God also uses words. Later on in the Book of Ezekiel, God opened Ezekiel’s mouth so he could be a verbal witness in declaring the future prophecies of Jerusalem.

While God may not call us to do weird and strange “action” things like he called Ezekiel to do when he prophesized the unfortunate events awaiting Jerusalem, He may call us to show God’s love to others through a kind word, a meal, a note, or a smile. So I am not saying we should never use words to minister.

Writer Will Maule says it best in his recent article titled “22 Things Christians Need to Stop Doing…Now!”

He states, “It’s just as important to represent Jesus by how we live, but someone can’t respond to the Good News without hearing it . . . and they can’t hear it if no one opens their mouths (Matt 10:27, Romans 10:14-15).” ¹

In my life, I have come to believe that unless what we say agrees with what we do, what we say is meaningless to most people.

God Uses Our Actions and Words

In an ongoing survey, people were asked if people were known by their actions or their words. The result was that 57% believe people are known by their actions and 43% believe that actions do not speak louder than words. ²

This discrepancy leans more to the belief that actions speak louder than words. The Bible is full of verses that discuss the importance of our actions. For example:

But these verses do not overpower the fact that God also uses our speech to minister, guide, encourage, and love others. Without the powerful words of Old Testament prophets, the people would not know God’s laws and His plans. Without the convicting words from the New Testament apostles, people would not know the plan of salvation and sanctification.

Be Obedient

Be open this week to His will in all you DO and SAY. Don’t be afraid to step out and do something “different” if you feel God impressing you to do so. If your motives are right, and it ends up not what God had in mind, He will fix it and make it right. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to grow, mature, and be obedient, whether in our words or actions. Being obedient to whatever God impresses upon us to do is the key. Both words and actions are important!

Being obedient to whatever God impresses you to do is the key. Both words and actions are important!
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God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Bible Verses:

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. John 10:25

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunities You give me to share my life with others. Give me wisdom and understanding regarding the best way to approach people with Your truths. You are a God I can trust to lead me in the paths of righteousness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

¹ Maule, Will. “22 Things Christians Need to Stop Doing…Now!” Hello Christian. http://hellochristian.com. Accessed 17 Feb 2017.

² “Do actions speak louder than words?” The Premier Online Debate Website. Debate.org. N.p., 21 Feb. 2017. Web. 21 Feb. 2017 <http://www.debate.org/>.

Edited by E. Johnson; Image Permission from J. Morisho 2-18-2017. Bible Verses from NASB.

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Books by Patti Greene

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages a commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

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#bgbg2, Christian Living, Friendship, Parenting and Family, Testimonies

The Linchpin of Loyalty: With God or the Super Bowl, Hanging Together Wins the Game

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The Linchpin of Loyalty: With God or the Super Bowl, Hanging Together Wins the Game

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Bible Study, How to Guides, Politics and Current Events, Prayer, The Bible

No-Nonsense Prayers for a Divided Country: The First 66 Days

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N0-Nonsense Prayers for a Divided Country: The First 66 Days / by Patti Greene

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What a WEEK!

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Pre-inaugural events—Swearing-in ceremonies—Fancy dresses—Speeches—Parades—Marches—Vulgarity—Activists—Signs—Creepy men in face masks—Pink hats—And, kids!

I have tried three times to write this blog over the past few days. Each time was for naught. Each blog just didn’t seem pertinent enough for the current state of affairs in the United States. When I prayed hard for direction the word “Scripture” kept coming up in my mind.

So, I finally found what God wanted me to share. SCRIPTURE. Below you will find 66 prayers along with 66 Scriptures that address how we can pray for our leaders, government offices, and agencies. There is one verse from each book of the Bible.

Commit today, on the first FULL day of Donald Trump’s presidency, to pray daily for a smooth and peaceful transition into this new era.

Click here for an A-Z Index of all U.S. Government Agencies

66 No-Nonsense Prayers for a Divided Country: The First 66 Days

Day 1: Pray that the Spirit of God will hover over the world.

  • Genesis 1:2 – Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Day 2: Pray that Christians will be fed through church and Christian ministries.

  • Exodus 20:8 – Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Day 3: Pray for our leaders to remain pure.

  • Leviticus 20:10 – If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife–with the wife of his neighbor–both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Day 4: Pray that our leader’s burdens are given to God.

  • Numbers 11:14 – I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.

Day 5: Thank God that our leaders are taking oaths in Your Name.

  • Deuteronomy 10:20 – Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

Day 6: Pray for strength not to be discouraged with all you see happening.

  • Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Day 7: Ask God to place good, honest judges over our land.

  • Judges 2:16 – Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.

Day 8: Pray that God will become a refuge to the people of the land.

  • Ruth 2:12 – May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

Day 9: Pray that pride and arrogance be kept from our leaders.

  • 1 Samuel 2:3 – Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.

Day 10: Pray that God’s anointed will be appointed to be officers.

  • 2 Samuel 7:8 –  Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.

Day 11: Pray that the Judicial Branch will recognize liars.

  • 1 Kings 22:23 – So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.

Day 12: Pray that the Lord will remove the sins of the people before his anger prevails.

  • 2 Kings 17:18-20 – Because the LORD was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the LORD their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.

Day 13: Pray for evil in the land to be stopped.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:22 – And David said to Ornan, Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.

Day 14: Pray for our leaders to pray and seek God’s face.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Day 15: Pray for our leaders to have courage to take matters into their hands.

  • Ezra 10:4 – Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.

Day 16: Pray God’s anointed to not rationalize the sins of this nation.

  • Nehemiah 4:5 – Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Day 17: Pray for Israel.

  • Esther 4:14 – For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Day 18: Pray for the force of evil attacking our nation.

  • Job 1:6 – Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Day 19: Pray that you will not fret over evildoers.

  • Psalms 37:1-2 – Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.

Day 20: Pay that our country will be established by righteousness.

  • Proverbs 16:12 – It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.

Day 21: Pray for the proper time and procedure for all negotiations our leaders encounter.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:6 – For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.

Day 22: Pray for sexual integrity when leaders make decisions on sexual issues.

  • Song of Solomon 8:4 – Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Day 23: Ask the Lord to renew the strength of those in authority over us.

  • Isaiah 40:31 – Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Day 24: Pray that our leaders will ask God where the good way is and strength to walk in it.

  • Jeremiah 6:16 – This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.

Day 25: Pray for the Department of Housing that laws and decisions are fair and just.

  • Lamentations 5:2 – Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.

Day 26: Pray for the Legislative Branch to make good laws and to eliminate bad laws.

  • Ezekiel 5:6 – Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.

Day 27: Pray that our President will give attention to God’s truth.

  • Daniel 9:13 – Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.

Day 28: Pray for our citizens to accept and respect the Office of the President and vice-President.

  • Hosea 1:11 – The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

Day 29: Pray our Armed Forces’ protection and focus.

  • Joel 2:7 – Like warriors they charge; like soldiers they scale the wall. They march each on his way; they do not swerve from their paths.

Day 30: Pray for people to be healed for the offenses and sins prevalent in our country.

  • Amos 5:12 – For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

Day 31: Lord, help me not to ever gloat over the misfortunes of others.

  • Obadiah 1:12 – Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.

Day 32: Lord, show our leaders who is causing the trouble in our nation and how to address them.

  • Jonah 1:8 – Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

Day 33: Pray for the Secretary of State to make wise decisions in settling world disputes.

  • Micah 4:3 – He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Day 34: Pray that our Armed Services will be strong and mighty.

  • Nahum 3:13 – Your troops will be as weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned.

Day 35: Pray that injustice and violence will cease in our land.

  • Habakkuk 1:3 – Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Day 36: Pray for swift punishment for those with violence and deceit in their heart.

  • Zephaniah 1:9 – Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

Day 37: Pray for your state governor to possess godliness and wisdom.

  • Haggai 1:14 – So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God,

Day 38: Pray for the Supreme Court and judges to administer true justice.

  • Zechariah 7:9 – This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.

Day 39: Thank God for freedom of religion and for that freedom not to be diminished.

  • Malachi 1:10 – How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and I will not accept your offerings.

Day 40: Pray that our leaders will be servants to those God has given them to serve.

  • Matthew 20:26 – Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

Day 41: Pray for the House of Representatives and the Senate to be at peace with each other.

  • Mark 9:50 – Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.

Day 42: Pray that the men or women voted into office choose God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.

  • Luke 18:18 – A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Day 43: Pray that our leaders will finish the work God wants them to accomplish.

  • John 4:34 – Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

Day 44: Pray for the President to speak words of encouragement to the people.

  • Acts 20:2 –  He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

Day 45: Pray for God’s authority to rule our land.

  • Romans 13:1-4 – Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Day 46: Pray that our leaders will lead with speech that enrich and encourage.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:51 – For in him you have been enriched in every way–with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.

Day 47: Pray for godly sorrow to lead to repentance.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10 –  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Day 48: Pray that our leaders do not grow weary of doing good.

  • Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Day 49: Pray against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  • Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Day 50: Pray that we do not become anxious about issues facing our nation.

  • Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Day 51: Pray for wisdom as our nation’s leaders deal with outside countries.

  • Colossians 4:5 – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Day 52: Pray to proceed with good motives in all our dealings.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:3 – For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

Day 53: Pray our leaders will recognize the works of Satan.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9 – The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.

Day 54: Pray for all who have been put in authority over us.

  • 1 Timothy 2:1-2 – First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Day 55: Pray our nation’s leaders will turn to the Bible as their source of truth.

  • 2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Day 56: Pray that the religious leaders of our government officials are blameless before God.

  • Titus 1:6-7 – An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Day 57: Thank God for the leadership of our country when we pray.

  • Philemon 1:4 – I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.

Day 58: Pray that our leader’s eyes will be fixed on Jesus.

  • Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Day 59: Pray for our leaders to be peacemakers.

  • James 3:18 – Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Day 60: Pray that those who lead our nation have alert and sober minds.

  • 1 Peter 1:13 – Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Day 61: Pray for God’s divine power to abound in our nation.

  • 2 Peter 1:32 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Day 62: Pray for those who practice unlawfulness.

  • 1 John 3:41 – Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Day 63: Give thanks for the joy you give us when we walk in your truth.

  • 2 John 1:4 – It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

Day 64: Pray for health and healing for our nation’s leaders.

  • 3 John 1:23 – Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Day 65: Pray freedom and peace in your local cities.

  • Jude 1:7 – In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Day 66: Thank God for his prophecy of hope for a new nation.

  • Revelation 21:24 – The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

God Bless. And as always, please share and forward this email to your friends and family.

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Dear God, the election is over. We have new leadership in our country. As believers, let us unite in prayer. Use me to pray for our country, its leadership, and for your truth every day for the next sixty-six days. Fill me with your Holy Spirit as I pray. Let my prayers be in accordance to your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Verses taken from various Bible versions: ESV, NIV, KJV, NASB, and NLT.

Bible text verses are taken from Bible Hub.

Books by Patti Greene:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

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#bgbg2, How to Guides, Prayer

How to Pray: 10 Tips for a Better Prayer Life

How to Pray: 10 Tips for a Better Prayer Life / by Patti Greene

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Matthew 26:41 states, “Watch and pray, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

As believers, we are all given the privilege of praying, but why do we fail at it? Sometimes we don’t want to pray or we don’t know how to pray. Satan will do all he can to stop us from praying through apathy, distractions, laziness, or sin. In our flesh, we don’t have the strength to pray as we ought to. But, God’s Holy Spirit will empower us to pray and help us in with our prayer life.

10 Tips for a Better Prayer Life

  1. Understand there is a scriptural basis for prayer.

    God specifically tells us to pray. The principle of ‘calling on God’ is mentioned multiple times in Scripture. The Bible tells us to pray explicitly and the LORD will answer our prayers and tell us great and hidden things not known (Jer. 33:3).

  1. Use a framework when praying.

    Prayer consists of many aspects—praise, worship, thanksgiving, confession, and petition. People from both the Old Testament and New Testaments prayed. Prayer unleashes the Holy Spirit and ignites a change in us. God’s people and God’s church are empowered through prayer (Phil. 4:6-7).

  1. Understand we are called to pray.

    Believers are called to pray. God can do whatever he wants to do, but he delights in working through our prayers. Praying takes discipline. It is our responsibility to pray for ourselves and for the needs of others. Sometimes we hesitate to pray because we do not believe that there will be results (1 Sam. 12:23).

  1. Just ask.

    God wants us to ask for what we need. The Bible mentions numerous things we can pray about for ourselves or for others such as, good health, God’s will, wisdom, and strength. Matthew 7:11b states, “How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (2 Chron. 1:11-12a).

  1. Be bold.

    Be bold—do not be general or half-hearted in our requests to God. God wants us to be bold in our prayers. Ask the LORD for a verse to speak especially to us. Claim God’s promises in prayer. We can start with John 15:7, John 15:16, and John 16:23-24 (Acts 4:31).

  1. Pray the Scriptures.

    Many people have discovered the power of praying Scriptures in their communication with God; thus, developing confidence in their prayers. To “pray the Scriptures,” try substituting names, pronouns, places, and circumstances into the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).

  1. Agree in prayer.

    Sometimes we pray with no results. This might be a time to call for others to pray with us. Jesus promises to be with us when two or more are gathered in his name. When united in prayer, God’s power multiples as our prayers are uplifted and intertwined in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 18:19-20).

  1. Read the Bible in addition to praying.

    2 Tim. 2:15 says to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” Spending time in Bible study and prayer causes our spirits to become sensitive to his leading. Succumbing to today’s culture of liberalism is easy, but when the words of God dwell within his people, we are less likely to be led astray (James 1:5).

  1. Believe in his divine providence.

    The universe is not governed by fate. God is in control of every occurrence in the universe. All that happens is because it is either his will or he allowed it. Because God is involved in everything in the world, he able to answer our prayers because he sees the big picture unfolding in our lives. (Ps. 103:19).

  1. Pray for God’s will.

    While there is no set procedure for knowing God’s will, his will never contradicts what his Word says. With Biblical guidance, prayer, counsel of mature believers, faith, glimpses from the Holy Spirit, and sometimes miraculous intervention, revelation of his will is possible (Heb. 11:8).

When Jesus prayed, ‘Not my will but thine be done, he was trying to submit His will to that of the Father. Bisango
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God Bless. And if you have any tips for readers, please comment so we can all learn together. Thank you.

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Bible Verse:

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:18

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, with thanksgiving, I call on your name. Teach me how to pray. Let me hear, understand, and feel your presence. Holy God, guard my steps, and let my requests be in line with your will. Let me do what is right in your sight, O Holy God.

Bisango, John. The Power of Positive Praying. Nashville: B&H, 1979.

Greene, Patti. Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer. Bloomington: WestBow, 2016.

Rogers, Adrian. “Prayer #2064”. www.youtube.com. 1 Jan 2017.

This blog is taken from the “How to Pray” section of Answer Me: Developing a heart for prayer.

For more articles on prayer, click here.

Bible text verses are taken from the English Standard Version Bible. Linked verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible.

Books by Patti Greene:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

#bgbg2, Bible Study, Devotionals, How to Guides, Prayer

Five Simple Steps for Making a Devotional Prayer Journal

Five Simple Steps for Making Your Own Devotional Prayer Journal / Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

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For the past 44 years I have put together a prayer journal of one type or another. During that time, I have improved my journals each year until I felt that I had perfected them. These journals change from year to year depending on my personal and spiritual needs. The photo above shows my personal homemade journal for 2017! It’s easy to make. You can be as creative as you want or not creative at all. As Nike says, “Just Do It.”

Prayer Journals are easy to make. You can be as creative as you want or not creative at all!
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Five Simple Steps to Make a Comprehensive Prayer Journal

1. Purchase or find a 3-ring notebook.

2. Purchase some notebook paper, dividers, pens, and/or markers if needed.

3. Come up with several categories and write them on your dividers. A good starter-set of categories might include “Prayer Requests”, “Bible Study Notes”, “Notes from Christian Books”, “Dear God Letters”, “Sermon Notes”.

4. Place the titled dividers and notebook paper in your binder. Put some notebook paper behind each divider. You may need to buy more notebook paper during the year.

5. Then, commit to using it daily with your Bible!

And, VOILÀ! You have a comprehensive devotional prayer journal!

You can add a zippered three-ring pencil holder for pencils, pens, and markers. This year I added a three-ring envelope for cards and special correspondence from friends and family.

And if you don’t like creating your own, I have written three devotional prayer journals that are already formatted and on sale at Amazon. They are Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer; Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer, and Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer. Click here to read more.

The important thing is not what type of prayer and Bible study mechanism you use, just use one. There are different options for keeping track of your prayer requests and Bible Study. Not everyone likes to start from scratch designing and organizing their own journals. But, for those of you who do, go for it! And then, please let me know how the Lord uses it in your walk with Him!

And, I’d love to see photos of your own created devotional prayer journal!

Blessings and have a “Happy New Year!”

Bible Verses:
Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.
Eccles. 12:9
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matt. 7:7
Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ups and the downs in 2016. All that happens to me works for good according to your purposes if I allow it. Let me follow your steps in 2017. Show me power in your word and when I pray. Convict me of my sins – both big and small. Let my studies seep so deep into my soul that I will not fear whatever is put in my path. Allow me to be consistent in my quiet time and please help me to honor you by having daily devotions. In your holy name, Jesus, I pray.

Please share, forward, and/or comment.
Edited by E. Johnson
Christian Living, Devotionals, Most Recent Post, Parenting and Family, Prayer

Choose to Have a Godly Christmas (or Choose to Miss Out)

1 Comment

Choose to Have a Godly Christmas (or Choose to Miss Out) / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

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Christmas is right around the corner. It is a time of fun and family for many people, but a time of sadness and loss for other people. We can choose to have a Godly Christmas or to miss out on all that God wants for us this season.

This Christmas will be our family’s first year without my father. You see, he passed away in February with a sudden diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. From diagnosis to death was only 3 weeks. My mother, my brothers, spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and myself miss him tremendously, but we decided to continue with the fun family time that he always enjoyed with us.

How can we keep having a great Christmas even when losses or tragedies have zapped our spirits over the past year? It’s tough, but well worth considering.

  1. Get Your Mind Off Yourself and Think of Others

Whether it is within your own family and friends or with getting together through volunteering, thinking of others gets us beyond ourselves. It strengthens our character and gives birth to empathy towards others. Being part of another’s happiness makes us want to be a part of their lives. Think about the children we may encounter during the Christmas season. Make them happy! Think of the homeless men and women who need someone to talk to this Christmas. Make them grateful! Think of those who never receive a word of encouragement. Send a note to lift them up!

  1. Be Pre-Prayed Up

To enjoy the season with a Godly attitude, pray before Christmas that your life will appreciate and enjoy the little niceties of the season. Pray that stress will not get you down. Pray that your family will get along. Pray that Christ will be glorified. Pray for forgiveness for any sins lingering in your mind. Repent of bad attitudes such as being jealous of others, or frequently wanting your own way.

  1. Spend Time in the Bible

Let the Word of God soak deeply in your mind to prepare you to think of Christ and his birth during the days and weeks before December 25th. Ask God to speak to you about your life in 2016. Meditate on Christ’s presence in your life during 2017. Decide to follow God with your whole heart in the new year.

Choose to follow God with your whole heart in 2017!
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  1. Continue with Family Traditions or Create some New Ones

If you haven’t starting making family traditions, start this year. Some family traditions my immediate family have had over the years are getting new sleepwear every year for all in the family. We open them before we open our gifts and wear them the rest of the evening. This tradition has developed from just plain pajamas to creating a secret theme each year for our pajamas. The kids love guessing, but I never tell ahead of time. A recent tradition that I started when grandchildren arrived was to wrap their gifts in different wrapping papers. Camren might have reindeer gift-wrap, Kinley might have peppermints, Crew might have Christmas trees, Chandler might have snowmen, and Harper might have candy cane paper. This is so fun for the kids. They scout out their gifts and they experience so much jubilee when they find one of their cousins’ gifts deep in the pile and hand (or throw) it to them. There are many other traditions you might be interested in.

Click here to read more Christmas family traditions.

  1. Read the Christmas Story

Read the Christmas Story aloud in Luke 2 while the family listens. It is a big deal in our family because we take the huge heavy family Bible and drag that out for its annual trek to the family circle. The kids love seeing a BIBLE that big. This is an awesome experience in teaching everyone that the real meaning of Christmas belongs to Jesus Christ. Also, saying a blessing before the Christmas meal encourages all to honor our Lord and Savior. Giving everyone a chance to show gratitude for their food, provisions, and health is cleansing to our souls.

Click here for a Christmas Devotional to use with your family.

  1. Put a Smile on Your Face and Be Grateful

Grin and be thankful for any gifts or compliments you receive. When our children and grandchildren observe us being thankful, they will hopefully model our behavior and be thankful this year and years to come. Try chatting with the kids before-hand and show them how to show gratitude for their gifts and meal even when it isn’t exactly what they want. This could come in a “thankful yell” across the room or getting up to give the person a hug or a kiss. And, after the fact, writing a thank-you note is a lovely gesture even for children. They can draw a picture of their gifts or even scribble. It is a great opportunity to teach our children how to write notes and address envelopes too.

  1. Plan Ahead

When we plan in our shopping, in our food preparations, in our travels, and in our time, it helps ease the stress many of us experience during the Christmas season.thank

Using food as an example, if there is any food you can prepare ahead of time, do that. Preparing a huge Christmas or Christmas Eve meal is difficult. But having the host in the kitchen the entire gathering time is disconcerting to guests or family members. It is possible their Christmas celebration isn’t what they want when they never see the host or their grandmother because the kitchen and the dishes are her focus.

  1. Put Christ in Christmas by Talking about Him

Model Christ in your behavior. Go to a Christmas Eve service. Have a manger scene available – kids love the adults in the family to play with the manager characters; watch Christian Christmas movies, and more.

No matter what your situation is during the Christmas season, let your light shine. Be a blessing to someone else. Enjoy the season and remember it is because Christ was born that we have the hope of salvation and eternal life through him.

It’s our choice whether we choose to have a Godly Christmas or to miss out. Choose today!

God Bless and Merry Christmas.

GreenePastures.org

Bible Verse:

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for this year. You know all I have experienced. Please let me choose today to have a Godly Christmas. I need to share you with my friends and family. I need your presence in my life. I need to be the example of how a believer should act. Let your Holy Spirit help me to be what you want me to be this Christmas. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on ‘Shop-Books by Patti Greene’ on this site.

Books by Patti Greene
Books by Patti Greene

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer has just been released by WestBow Press. I am so excited about this new book. If you or anyone you know is interested in developing a life of prayer, this 90-day prayer journal is perfect. NEW RELEASE

Answer Me includes:

  • An Undated Dateline
  • Topic on Prayer
  • Scripture Verse
  • Suggested Reading
  • Daily Thought
  • Prayer Request Section
  • Personal Reflection Section
  • Prayer

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages a commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at Patti@GreenePastures.org for confidentiality.

Devotionals, God's Will, Most Recent Post, Prayer, Testimonies, Uncategorized

A Call to Writing

A Call to Writing by Patti Greene / Greene Pastures by Patti

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POSTED BY  AT WESTBOW PRESS ON DEC 14TH, 2016 IN AUTHORS IN THEIR OWN WORDS |
If you would like to learn more about Patti’s life or work, visit her blog Greene Pastures. 

Childhood Interests

Growing up my family valued books and reading. The bookshelves in my parents’ home were always overflowing with novels, magazines, and encyclopedias. Newspapers were delivered in abundance to every home we owned. My two brothers and I were raised to believe that bookcases were an essential piece of furniture in every room.

Where I lived in the northeast, there weren’t any brick-and-mortar libraries close by. Despite that,  I found much enjoyment going to the bookmobile that showed up weekly at the local shopping center. While my mother was in the grocery store, I would anxiously and excitedly climb the big bookmobile stairs. I was always in search of the perfect books to check out. Every Christmas I looked forward to receiving good books to read.

By the time I went to high school, I was not as interested in reading anymore. I remember one day my father restricted me to the dining room table until I read an article in a Newsweek magazine. Reading was always valued in my family, and it still is.

As I write this article, my 91-year-old mother is sitting at the kitchen table taking notes from her medical books.

A Call to Writing

As a child when we traveled on our vacations, my parents had my brothers and I write diary entries on our days’ adventures. This was my first recollection of enjoying “collections.” When I was seventeen, I began logging my prayer requests in various types of note-books. Basically, I found myself prayer-journaling before prayer-journaling came into vogue.

For many years I worked as a librarian. One day after retirement, I prayed fervently about what the Lord wanted me to do. In his own way during my quiet time, I was impressed to go into my bedroom closet. My first thought was, “Oh no God, you aren’t going to make me sit in my messy closet and pray, are you?”

As I stood in my closet, I was impressed again to, “Look up.” There stood 42-years of prayer journals on my top shelf. It was then I heard the still, small voice saying, “Patti, I want you to write prayer journals. This is what I have been preparing you for all these years.” While I have tinkered with writing articles and stories most of my adult life, I became serious at that point. My mission was to write prayer journals so others could experience joy, comfort, and security. Blessings which I’d experienced throughout my entire adult life.

Prayer Journals

My devotional prayer-journals combine Bible study and prayer. The two cannot be separated. Each journal includes black datelines, topics, and Scripture verses. As well as a suggested Bible reading, prayer request sections, and a section to honor God with your thoughts.

My prayer is for others to become serious about prayer and Bible study. I practice my writing skills on my own Christian blog Greene Pastures. While I believe “practicing” a skill is of utmost importance, I believe continuous daily practice in communicating with God is essential. That is why I am honored to have the following three journals published with WestBow Press.

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer – A 365-day devotional incorporating interesting phrases from the Bible.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer – A 181-day devotional filled with both spiritual and social issues.

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for God – a 90-day devotional prayer journal for those desiring how to have a deeper prayer life. NEW RELEASE.

– WBP –

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. It comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Christian Living, Friendship

Christian Gifts

Christian Gifts

By Patti Greene / Greene Pastures by Patti

Originally Posted 12/06/2016

[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Christmas is around the corner! And, have you finished your shopping? I decided to ask some friends and family about where they have found some interesting, unique, and even routine Christian gifts. Below you will find the results. I’m hoping that this list will help you in your last-minute Christmas shopping and even into the new year. Links come and go, so if they are here today and gone tomorrow, that is technology on the move. Even though Greene Pastures is not recommending every item you may find on this list, many items will bring long-lasting joy to those you know.

So, grab some coffee and surf through these sites. Get some ideas for gifts even if you don’t buy from those sites per se. In addition, keep your eyes open for those items you love. There are always those folks who do ask you for what you want and now you can be ready for your response.

Wrapping up my shopping now will be easy. But, I better get moving. Online purchasing is easy! But order quickly as mail takes time and we don’t want gifts arriving after Jesus’ birthday or any birthday.

Christian Gifts

CLICK LINKS BELOW TO SEE CHRISTIAN GIFT ITEMS! HAVE FUN SHOPPING!

Best Selling Religious Gifts from Personalization Mall

Bible Scripture Bags and Handbags

Bible Trivia Games [Adults and Children] from Kohl’s

Bible Verse Posters by All Posters.com

Bibles from Mardel

Bible Toys Noah’s Ark 18 Piece Playset with Noah, 14 Animals and Floating Ark – Christian Based Faith Children Toys

Boxed Christian Cards from Daysprings

Christian Coloring Books for Adults and Children

Christian Cross Adult Bib

Christian Home Décor

Christian Jewelry that Inspires Faith in Jesus Christ

Christian Mugs

Christian Prayer Cube Bedtime Prayers

Christian Toys, Puzzles, and Games [By Age]

Christian T-Shirts from Christian Apparel Shop

Christian Videos for Children from Mardel

Christmas Specials and Giveaways by Elle Bee

Cute Clothes for Infants and Toddlers

Dear Mushka Products

Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene

Gift Shop at Dayspring

I Can Read Book Series

Journals and Notebooks from Daysprings

Lauren Nicole Handwritten Gifts [Put a signature on Jewelry]

Miscellaneous Christian Gifts from Zazzle

Mother, Woman Of God Pen and Bookmark Gift Set

Practical Gifts for Him from Christian Books

Religious Christmas Gifts from Bradford Exchange

Roses and Teacups Gifts and Favors

The Jerusalem Gift Shop – Variety of Gifts

Unique Christian Gifts on Zazzle

Willow Tree Collection by Demdaco

And a good friend said, “Be sure to check out your local artists!”

God Bless. And let me know what treasures you find!

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Bible Verses:

  • Am I not allowed to do what I choose what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity? Matthew 20:15
  • Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
  • Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Prayer:

Lord, as I choose gifts this season, please guide me in choosing items that will be honorable in your eyes. Let me discern when I should purchase Christian gifts for others. Let me find the perfect gift that will help them be a servant for you. Thank you, Jesus, for all you do for me and let me pass on Christian generosity to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail bookstore. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on ‘Shop-Books by Patti Greene’ on this site.

NEW RELEASE – Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer

Just in time for Christmas! Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer has just been released by WestBow Press. I am so excited about this new book. If you or anyone you know is interested in developing a life of prayer, this 90-day prayer journal is perfect.

Answer Me includes:

  • An Undated Dateline
  • Topic of Prayer
  • Scripture Verse
  • Suggested Reading
  • Daily Thought
  • Prayer Request Section
  • Personal Reflection Section
  • Prayer

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages a commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at Patti@GreenePastures.org for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, Test Your Knowledge, The Bible

Test Your Knowledge [Thanksgiving]

Test Your Knowledge [Thanksgiving] / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

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Many of you know the Bible contains many sentences about thankfulness, being thankful, thanks, and thanking. So, let’s do something fun this Thanksgiving! Let’s test your knowledge on Biblical phrases or sentences using derivatives of the word “THANK.”

Below you will find 20 fill-in-the-blank Bible verses from the English Standard Version [ESV] version. See how many you can get correct. If you have an ESV Bible, feel free to use the open-book option to find your answers.

The answers are listed at the end of the blog. Please share this blog with your friends and family – especially educators who love tests they don’t have to make up!

Thanksgiving Bible Trivia Quiz

  1. From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of _______________. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Jeremiah 30:19

a. bells     b. music     c. rejoicing     d. gratitude

  1. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all _______________ ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

a. cities     b. things     c. situations     d. circumstances

  1. It was the duty of the trumpeters and _______________ to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 5:12-13

a. singers     b. saxophones     c. musicians     d. choir

  1. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all _______________, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

a. love     b. wisdom     c. words     d. praise

  1. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with _______________ of leavened bread. Leviticus 7:13

a. cakes     b. loaves     c. muffins     d. sticks

  1. I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his ________________, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Psalm 7:17

a. holiness     b. perfection     c. righteousness     d. precepts

  1. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make _______________ to him with the harp of ten strings! Psalm 33:2

a. melody     b. music     c. dances     d. praises

  1. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and _______________, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter. Daniel 2:23

a. might     b. justice     c. love     d. knowledge

  1. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. _______________ belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:9

a. Patience     b. Tithe     c. Salvation     d. Eternal life

  1. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “_______________ of it, all of you . . .” Matthew 26:27

a. Sip     b. Drink     c. Swallow     d. Gulp

  1. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “_______________” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 1 Corinthians 14:16

          a. Blessings     b. Amen     c. Praise     d. Exaltation

  1. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to _______________. Philippians 4:6

          a. your Heavenly Father     b. the angels     c. Jesus     d. God

  1. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of ________________, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

          a. Everlasting God     b. Yahweh     c. the Lord Jesus     d. your creator

  1. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his ________________ with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalms 100:4

          a. courts     b. gates     c. door     d. mansion

  1. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the _______________! Psalm 147:7

          a. harmonica     b. keyboard     c. lyre     d. harp

  1. For everything created by God is _______________, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:4

          a. heavenly     b. first-class     c. good     d. marvelous

  1. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your ________________ is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3

          a. love     b. faith     c. hope     d. confidence

  1. And let the peace of Christ ________________ in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

          a. control     b. rule     c. grow     d. be powerful

  1. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, _______________, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. Luke 18:11

          a. unjust     b. liars     c. murderers     d. robbers

  1. First, I thank my God through ________________ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Romans 1:8

          a. praise     b. Jesus Christ     c. the Holy Spirit     d. Abraham

Scroll all the way down for the answers.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful day. You are a mighty God and you do so much for me. I am so grateful for your love, your kindness, your patience, and your direction. Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for my well-being. Thank you that I can trust in your guidance and love every day of my life. Thank you for giving strength and protection to me. You are a generous and holy God. In Jesus’ name.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

Edited by E. Johnson

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on ‘Shop-Books by Patti Greene’ on this site.

NEW RELEASE – Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer

Just in time for Christmas! Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer has just been released by WestBow Press. I am so excited about this new book. If you or anyone you know is interested in developing a life of prayer, this 90-day prayer journal is perfect.

Answer Me includes:

  • An Undated Dateline
  • Topic on Prayer
  • Scripture Verse
  • Suggested Reading
  • Daily Thought
  • Prayer Request Section
  • Personal Reflection Section
  • Prayer

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages a commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at Patti@GreenePastures.org for confidentiality.

Answers to Test Your Knowledge [Thanksgiving] – 5 Points for Each Correct Answer!

  1. c – rejoicing
  2. d – circumstances
  3. a – singers
  4. b – wisdom
  5. b – loaves
  6. c – righteousness
  7. a – melody
  8. a – might
  9. c – Salvation
  10. b – Drink
  11. b – Amen
  12. d – God
  13. c – the Lord Jesus
  14. a – courts
  15. c – lyre
  16. c – good
  17. b – faith
  18. b – rule
  19. a – unjust
  20. b – Jesus Christ

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Christian Living, Life Issues, Prayer, Testimonies

From a Mother’s Heart: Praying Christian Community into Existence

Video

From a Mother’s Heart: Praying Christian Community into Existence / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Our family lives in Houston, Texas. In the fall of 2004, our son Jimmy started his first year at Babson College. It was during this time that God impressed on my heart the absolute need for believers to dwell in union and community in Jesus Christ.

In high school Jimmy applied to many colleges, but after much prayer he made the decision to attend Babson in the Boston, Massachusetts area – which is 1,848 miles away from home.

For background, we are a middle-class family. Jimmy attended a public high school and was raised in Bible-believing churches. Our church, and church friends, were always like family to us.

Jimmy stayed his first year at Babson, but the calls and emails home were increasingly breaking this mom’s heart. That first year was tough for him; for the first time, he was competing with private school kids, prep school kids, and kids much more ingrained in education than he was. The academic standards were higher than expected.

Jimmy was unhappy, stressed, and deeply regretting his college choice. He attended a high school with 3,500 students. He was class president for four years and an outstanding athlete. However, Babson was a D-3 school and there wasn’t much pride in the sports arena compared to D-1 schools. This college was strictly an upper level business school whose attendees consisted of those who considered attending other prestigious schools, e.g. Harvard, Yale, MIT. We were all astonished this was where Jimmy was being led by God to attend. It didn’t make sense to us other than Jimmy had a deep desire to attend a school in the Northeast where he would be challenged academically.

Every day I would come home from work, and I would pray long, hard, and continuously for him. It was sad because my two older children enjoyed their college life, but this post-secondary adversity was a new experience for both my husband, Jimmy, and myself.

I prayed more than I had ever prayed for anything in my life. I prayed for him to find a church family. I prayed for Christian friends. I prayed for him to find a Bible-believing church. I prayed for him to be strong in his faith. I prayed for him to become closer to the Lord. I prayed he would read his Bible. The list could go on and on.

This mom’s heart was breaking. Tears flowed almost daily.

I had been made aware of “prayer-walking” although I had never done it in a church situation before. GotQuestions.org, an online source for answering Biblical questions, defines prayer-walking as “the practice of praying on location, a type of intercessory prayer that involves walking to or near a particular place while praying.” ¹ While unable to be on the Massachusetts campus myself, I decided to prayer walk in my own creative way.

I sat down in the chair in which I normally pray in with a map of the college campus. I “walked” around the campus in my mind, praying for what happened in each dorm. I prayed for Jimmy to meet nice people in the cafeteria and prayed for his classes. Thus, within time, I had prayed for every building on campus, including the chapel, which was mostly used for lectures, not religious events.

I seemed to dwell and pray more in and around the chapel. Of course, in my mind, the chapel represented God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit.

I continued to pray fervently and long. I prayed for any Christian church to reach out in ministry. I prayed for Christian influences to show up. I prayed for spiritual strength. I prayed for the Lord to speak to others to help. I prayed for the community people. I prayed because I love my son and I wanted him to be happy and to keep his Christian faith strong during college.

Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as CRU for Crusade) had occasional meetings on the campus. While CRU was helping to fulfill the Great Commission by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ and building them in their faith, more was needed, e.g. fellowship, Bible study, opportunities to serve.

I was reading the Bible constantly looking for verses to help him and to guide myself in what to tell him.

I was touched by Bible Verses such as:

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! (Psalm 119:28).

Redeem [him] from the oppression of men, that [he] may obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:134)

And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (Nehemiah 4:9)

Most importantly, I prayed for students to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior. I claimed verses for these college students to have the ability to stay strong in their beliefs and to avoid evil and temptations.

Our son tried to transfer after his first year to the University of Texas where he was initially accepted, but they wanted him to do summer school first. The timing didn’t work out, and it became obvious that God had other plans. He was going back to Babson.

Long story short: in the fall of 2005, I received a phone call. Jimmy said he went to church. When I asked him where, he said, a church started on the college campus IN THE CHAPEL. When he told me it was a Christian church that believed in the Bible, I was absolutely thrilled!

Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think that a church (a CHRISTIAN church, no less) would be right on the college campus where students could just roll out of bed and be ministered to by the Lord and the community.

The vision of this church is to be a local supportive community of authentic followers of Christ who experience transformation by the grace of Jesus Christ and bring God’s love to the world. It was through their ministry that Jimmy’s attitude changed regarding being at Babson. He met fellow students who were believers – one to this day who is his best friend. He found solace and comfort in meeting Christians from the community. Being invited to meals, dinners, and functions by the members of this church boosted his faith and that of those who attended with him. He played his guitar during the church services.

Finally, after a year of zealous praying, my son and others had a spiritual community of believers that cared for them, guided them, fed them, and loved them for the next three years.

I asked Jimmy (who has been out of that scenario for 6 1/2 years) what his involvement with the church meant to him and his buddies. He said, in his business tone, “It was an excellent way for the campus students to mature in their spiritual life; to see how ‘older’ Christians lived their lives; and to see how Christian employers and businessmen act and conduct business.”

Then, the goose bumps came when I heard what God had been doing behind the scenes the entire first year I was praying. One of the founding members of the church shared with me about how their home-church contacted the chaplain at Babson to ask about the availability of their church meeting in the chapel for services. Much to their amazement, they were told that the only time the chapel was available was on Sunday morning.

What a blessing to see how the Holy Spirit was working things all together as only He can do. Only God can take the prayers of one mom in Texas and one congregation in Massachusetts to work things together for good. There was no doubt in my mind that God started the ministry on the Babson campus and there was no doubt why. He always knows the big picture and puts it all together for His glory.

College is hard enough. Having an outlet for fellowship, love, and good Bible-teaching is a true blessing and outreach. You may not ever know how much it means to these kids, but believe me, it does. I continue to see the spiritual fruits of this Christian community in Jimmy’s life. God knew his unmet spiritual needs and He chose to meet it through this church.

The fall after my son graduated from Babson, the church relocated from the college chapel to a different facility. While I was happy for the church when they moved to a new location, a part of my heart was saddened by the lack of spiritual needs that might go unmet with those college students. But, fortunately, their new location was close to the college campus!

All I can say to this wonderful church is “thank you from the bottom of my heart for being receptive to the Holy Spirit and heeding His call.” While I was praying for a local church, God was creating a “ROLL OUT OF BED CHURCH” for all those Babson students who attended. God answered above all expectations. He even knew that my son would thrive best when church was within a five-minute wake-up time to sitting in a pew.

Praying ‘community’ into existence is powerful. Not only was I impressed by the need for believers to dwell in union and in community in Jesus Christ, I experienced firsthand how prayer can spur Christian community into existence.

Bible Verses:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Prayer:

Dear Father, Thank you for being with me during the difficult and painful times of my life. With your love and power, you can change circumstances and situations. You are an awesome God. May I always trust you to know best. Help me to always realize that through our tough times we grow more in faith and love towards you. Thanks you again. I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Testimony given with permission from Jimmy.

Houdmann, S. Michael. Got Questions. GotQuestions.org. Accessed 27 Oct 2016.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

Edited by E. Johnson

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on SHOP on this site.

Just in time for Christmas! Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer has just been released by WestBow Press. I am so excited about this new book. If you or anyone you know is interested in developing a life of prayer, this 90-day prayer journal is perfect.

Answer Me includes:

  • An Undated Dateline
  • Topic on Prayer
  • Scripture Verse
  • Suggested Reading
  • Daily Thought
  • Prayer Request Section
  • Personal Reflection Section
  • Prayer

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages a commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at Patti@GreenePastures.org for confidentiality.

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