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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:19 pmRead: Micah 4:1-3, 6:6-8 http://www.christianityoasis.com/bible/ ... ld_lookup=
"Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
In a devotion I wrote some years ago for The Uppoer Room, I described the parallel between training young pea plants to grow correctly on a trellis and training our children in the ways of the Lord. A new aspect of this annual practice recently occurred to me during a time of despair over our adult children.
Some of our more mature pea plants had been firmly attached tot he base of the trellis, but as they grew, their stems went off in all directions and the trendils could not reach the trellis. These plants were windblown, fallen and in danger of snapping at their stems. So I have had to carefully bend the plants and use supporting string to keep the plants upright, so that they can again attached to the trellis and be able to set pods. This reminded me that no matter how far we may stray from the Lord, God always reaches out to offer support and love, guiding us back.
I have shared something of the agony of the father of the prodical son, and indeed, of God's heart, since our beloved children are distant from the Lord. Scripture encourages us to "pray continually." This is a large part of keeping a faithful lookout for the spiritual return of those prodicals in our biological or spiritual families. We long to welcome them back with immeasurable love, just as God welcomes every one of us.
Prayer: "Dear God of prodigals, thank you for the assurance of your limitless love for every sheep who returns to you In Jesus Name, Amen."
Prayer Focus of Day: Parents of Prodigals
Thought for the Day: God never gives up on anyone.
Story shared by: A. Sloane (Australia)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional 6/18/11
"Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
In a devotion I wrote some years ago for The Uppoer Room, I described the parallel between training young pea plants to grow correctly on a trellis and training our children in the ways of the Lord. A new aspect of this annual practice recently occurred to me during a time of despair over our adult children.
Some of our more mature pea plants had been firmly attached tot he base of the trellis, but as they grew, their stems went off in all directions and the trendils could not reach the trellis. These plants were windblown, fallen and in danger of snapping at their stems. So I have had to carefully bend the plants and use supporting string to keep the plants upright, so that they can again attached to the trellis and be able to set pods. This reminded me that no matter how far we may stray from the Lord, God always reaches out to offer support and love, guiding us back.
I have shared something of the agony of the father of the prodical son, and indeed, of God's heart, since our beloved children are distant from the Lord. Scripture encourages us to "pray continually." This is a large part of keeping a faithful lookout for the spiritual return of those prodicals in our biological or spiritual families. We long to welcome them back with immeasurable love, just as God welcomes every one of us.
Prayer: "Dear God of prodigals, thank you for the assurance of your limitless love for every sheep who returns to you In Jesus Name, Amen."
Prayer Focus of Day: Parents of Prodigals
Thought for the Day: God never gives up on anyone.
Story shared by: A. Sloane (Australia)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional 6/18/11
Lani