Raising from the dead

Earlier this week I read a scripture and then today at a women's breakfast at Church it was brought up again, so I had to share :)

All through the New Testament Jesus raises the dead. Jarisus's daughter  (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:41,42; Luke 8:40-56) A widow's son (Luke 7:11-15) and Lazarus (John 11) and of course the greatest resurrection ever Jesus (Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)

One story of resurrection, that I don't ever remember reading, was of Tabitha in Acts 9:35-41 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.

First, we see that Tabitha was a disciple, we see that she has a servant's heart, she was always doing good and helping the poor. Next, we see she became sick and died. Men went to get Peter, and he went with them. The widows were standing around him crying, and showing him the robes that Tabitha had made, this tells me they loved her so much and appreciated her hard work. Peter then sent everyone out of the room, he turned toward Tabitha and told her to get up. This is the first time we see someone, other than Jesus, raising someone from the dead. She opened her eyes, saw Peter and she sat up. He is then the perfect gentlemen and helps her to her feet. Peter then called for the believers and scripture says especially the widows, so I am left wondering (or concluding ;) that she must have had a huge impact on them. They were mourning her when she died, and immediately showed Peter the clothing that she had made, she was loved. 

It's amazing how God uses scripture to speak to us. I want to make sure that I am using the gifts Christ has given me each and everyday to further the Kingdom. I do not want to be sitting idly by and not fulfill the calling that the Lord has given me, what a waste that would be. 1 Peter 4: 10-11 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  

In Christ,
Jen

Praying for other believers

Last month (September) Andrew, James (our pastor) and Amber (children) started praying for the believers of our church. Andrew sent it to me and I did it along side of him. This month (October) our Pastor "challenged" the congregation to do it, so I am going through it again. This time though with a little more passion. See when I did it last month my prayer was, "Lord bless those, and watch over those, and help those of Kirkwood grow in you." That's as far as it went though. This time I went through and wrote down every person's name and I pray for them each individually. It has been more meaningful this time. I don't feel like i'm just flying through prayers to just get through them, but I'm actually taking the time to pray for each person. 

These past few weeks I have been reminded how important prayer is. Not that I didn't believe it was important, I did however get caught up in the, praying to pray, because it was my Christian duty. When I started praying specifically for each person, by name, it all changed. Part of the scripture that we are reading is coming out of Colossians 1 vs. 9 tells us, "we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11. being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully, 12. giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." We are called to pray, we are called to pray for others. If you would like to join in on praying for other believers, click here. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually