Thought for Thursday, April 19th

April 19, 2012

A Series of Spiritual Ponderings

With Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn

This here series may seem a bit peculiar to some of ya’ll folks: but then life itself can be a tad bit peculiar some of the time.  Over the next few days the writer of these here thoughts has decided to take a gander at some spiritual insights from the perspective of Tom and Huck, a couple of characters from Mr. Mark Twains novels.

Next

Prayin’ Ain’t Just for Emergencies

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luke 21:34-36

Quote of the Day

“I don’t know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answers to prayer.” – Mark Twain

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

What boy is there that ain’t found himself in a bit of a pinch when a quickly uttered prayer and a rashly made promise ain’t been found of necessity to survive a particular situation?

I been there a many a time myself.  Course now my good buddy Huckleberry Finn – he ain’t so much of the quick prayin’ in a tight situation kind of fellar, like I am.  When he does decide to pray he seems to take the business of prayin’ a bit more seriously.  Course ain’t often that you will find him down on his knees: least not for the purpose of saying no prayers: now maybe looking for a treasure – but that there is a bit of a different situation and not what we’s to be a focussin’ on here.

Though Judge Thatcher, Becky’s daddy, done went and talked to our Sunday School class on this here very subject and he talked it up real proper.  He let us know without no doubt or question that prayin’ is a serious kind of business and somethin’ we ought to be attendin’ too with some consistent regularity on more than just an emergency kind of basis.  And I reckon he’s probably right, ‘specially him bein’ a judge and all and having so much learnin’.

I reckon God likes to hear from us more than I thought He might from what I’ve learned.  I reckon He don’t go gettin’ all tired of hearin’ us yammer on like sometimes our family does.

Reckon that’s a good thing.  I suppose I oughta talk to Him more often than I do.

Today’s Prayer

Father, prayer is such a powerful tool that you have made available to us – please help me to use it often and effectively.

“You can’t pray a lie.”

– Mark Twain

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote