mercy

  • By Prayer and Petition with Thanksgiving #3

    thanksgivingIf you are just joining us for your Wednesday prayer time this month, we are focusing on thanksgiving because, well you know.  Our scripture today may seem like an odd choice.  You probably won’t see it framed with a pumpkin or fall leaves.  But I think it’s an important reminder in this season and every season.

    “Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”  Ephesians 5:4 NIV

     

    In Paul’s appeal to the church in Ephesus, he challenges them to a new morality.  Above and beyond simply keeping the law.  A commentary puts it this way, “Instead of using his tongue for such unworthy and unbecoming talk, the Christian should deliberately cultivate the practice of expressing thanks to God for all the blessings and mercies of life.  This is pleasing to the Lord, a good example to others, and beneficial to one’s own soul.”

     

    Does this mean the believer should be somber and serious at all times?  No!!!  Joking has its place and I love to laugh more than anyone.  It’s good for our health!

     

    So here is my prayer of petition with Thanksgiving:

    Replace the pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.

     

    I would love it if you would fill the comments this month with things for which you thank our Lord and Savior.  Let’s flood this space with gratitude.  And don’t forget to share this on your favorite social media platform using the icons below.  Invite others to join in the thanksgiving.  And if you don’t want to miss any of the party, subscribe using the form on the right hand side of this page.

     

    Praying for you in this.

    Lauren

     

     

  • Princess Consuela Banana Hammock…and Grace and Truth Link Up

    Today is National Name Yourself Day!  Can you tell I’m paying a little too much attention to the weird and random holidays lately?  This one reminded me of an episode of the TV show Friends.  In it the principle character Phoebe decided to legally change her name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.  The problem?  She had no idea what a banana hammock actually was.  Hilarity ensued.

     

    A few years ago, I learned that I sang the wrong words to the 2005 song “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects.  Apparently oblivious to the NAME of the song, I believed the lyrics to the chorus were, “And even when your hope is gone, mow the lawn, mow the lawn just to make it through.”  Changes the meaning a bit.  Just like Phoebe’s name of choice changed from whimsical to weird when she understood that Banana Hammock was more than just a funny word.

     

    Following my realization, I threw up a post on Facebook asking others to share their best misheard lyrics.  I’ll share a couple that made me spit coffee out of my nose.  My Allie used to sing the praise song, “You are the everlasting God” as “You are forever asking God”.  Might be some truth there.  If pop music is more your thing, a friend’s grandson sang Maroon 5’s megahit “Moves Like Jagger” as “I’ve got to move like dragons, I’ve got to move like dragons.”  And Princess Consuela herself thought Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” went “Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza”.  I’m sure many Who’s the Boss fans relate.  But one of my favorites, Billy Joel’s “Keeping the Faith”, has a whole new meaning when interpreted as “Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a kick in the face!”

     

    A couple of weeks ago, the 23rd Psalm, Verse 6 reminded me of a misheard lyric of my own.  I grew up singing the hymn based on this passage, “Surely Goodness and Mercy”.  Even as a child, I had the words right – I held the hymnal with them in my hand.  “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”  A cheery song that left me wondering what in the world surely goodness was.

     

    I believe the word of God is without error, but a comma would have helped 2nd grade Lauren understand just what we sang about.  Read this with a pause where I placed the comma.  “Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”  Surely.  A sure thing.  Without a doubt, goodness and mercy follow me wherever I go.  Because I belong to Jesus, goodness and mercy surround me.  Always.  In every way.  Wow.

     

    May a pause between two words encourage you today.

     

    And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

     

    Jennifer Ross touched me with her sweet tribute to her daughter and a miracle working God in The Gift of a Rose…  I have a baby girl (16 now) with the middle name Rose as well.  Praise God for His precious gifts.

     

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