Category: encouragement

Posted in encouragement, theology

The word of God is living

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

To the Christian, the word of God is like a green lawn, undulating, rolling out blade after blade of perfectly manicured grass, thriving and living, each blade a perfect truth to be discovered, examined, applied, praised.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

Underline is mine, it’s what I’m focusing on in this essay. Continue reading “The word of God is living” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Who do you want to meet?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Our busy days can get so fraught with things of this world, by necessity (kids, meetings, laundry, shopping, appointments, practices, etc) that when we read the Bible we can forget that the people we are reading about had the same kind of lives. They were real people and most of them that we read in the pages of scripture were believers. And since they are believers, we will meet them in heaven. They might have dropped off the pages of the Bible but they lived, died, and were brought to the presence of Jesus. Their lives are still going. When we get there, we will meet them. Their faith means that they have a relationship with us, and us with them.

Who do you want to meet? Who are you curious about? Continue reading “Who do you want to meet?” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Womanly contentment vs. discontentment, advice from 1896

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata*

I was destined for great things, my mother promised. Women can do anything, my mother said. We should be feminists, my mother urged. Folks in our family are successful- entrepreneurs, professors, businessmen, doctors. So that was proof.

I was indeed on that trajectory when Christ interrupted my plans, humbled them, humbled me, and plucked me from the secular notion of success and began the long road of transforming my mind into acceptance of Christian success. Continue reading “Womanly contentment vs. discontentment, advice from 1896” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

ALONE: Day 4,380

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been watching the History Channel’s show on Hulu called “Alone.” It features survivalists dropped into remote lands with a backpack of approved 10 pieces of gear, some cameras, to see who lasts the longest. The prize $500,000. The difference with this show and other reality programs is that there is no production crew taking film of the proceedings. The contestants are given a variety of cameras, go through a two-week boot camp (to learn the cameras and also about the land they will be surviving) and then dropped. Alone. Continue reading “ALONE: Day 4,380” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

My silly reluctance to read the Bible

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

There are a lot of songs of praise to and about God in the Bible. We think of Mary’s Magnificat at Christmas time. We think of the Psalms and their exaltation of Yahweh throughout. Simeon’s song. But there are so many others.

I follow a Bible reading plan that is chronological according to when the Bible book is written. So that means Job is the first book in the plan and Revelation is the last one. I just finished reading through Ezekiel.

When I was first saved the Lord saw fit to put in me an interest in Old Testament prophets. So that meant as a babe in Christ I was weaned on Jeremiah, Nahum, Obadiah and so on. I came to understand that was something a bit different as a new Christian than the logical progression of reading John and Acts and the other 3 Gospels. But I cut my teeth on the prophets and I love them and I’m familiar with them. Continue reading “My silly reluctance to read the Bible” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Joy in renewed church going

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I appreciate my elders and the crew that sets up for church and cleans up afterward, with my greatest thanks to Jesus of course, our Head of the Church!

You see, yesterday was the second Sunday in a row we have returned to gather for church services. We’ve been in a shelter-in-place/lockdown/quarantine during this weird coronavirus-pandemic time. May 31 was the first time since mid-March that we have been allowed to gather.

We all felt the dearth of the fellowship. We felt dry due to no word being preached. We longed to sing. We wanted to do it all in person, not virtually on a Zoom screen. Continue reading “Joy in renewed church going” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Throngs around the Throne

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’d written on Twitter the other day the following. There are character limits on Twitter. So I’d like to expand on it here.

I said- “I don’t like what’s happening in the US right now, but I believe it is ‘good.’ In the same way that what happened to Job was ‘good’ or to Tyre, even tho they were bad events, the Lord purposed them, and He is Good, everything He does is GOOD. ‘may the name of the Lord be praised.’ ”

The last sentence is a quote from Job 1:21b where Job recounts his woes but ends with a praise to the Lord. Even in calamity we praise Him. Especially in calamity, we praise Him! Continue reading “Throngs around the Throne” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Guest post from younger sister: The Amazing Exchange

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’d mentioned in yesterday’s blog post that some of the younger people were seeking answers to the mayhem that is everywhere today. They want to sort out what is happening. Their consciences are tender and their heart moves easily. So I’d compiled a list of theologically solid podcasts so that anyone seeking answers would hopefully be steered to good resources.

Yesterday I was contacted by one of the younger sisters in my church asking for a review of a post she intended to publish. She wanted it looked over to see if it contributed to the discussion, was absent any virtue signaling, and was faithful to scripture. She’d also listened to the recommended Just Thinking podcast. My heart immediately soared. There are still young people who care deeply about being a dew drop of grace in His name, and not a clamoring, shouting secular rioter, and who proceed with caution before speaking. Continue reading “Guest post from younger sister: The Amazing Exchange” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Seeking His face as the solace for turbulent times

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We live in scary times. This isn’t anything new…the ’60s were scary, a civil & societal revolution took place between generations. Plus, there was the Viet Nam war. The 40’s were scary, WWII. The Great Depression and the Great Migration in the decade before that. And before that, the Great Influenza. And so on. Any times we have of peace and prosperity are illusions that exist between the turbulence. It’s the turbulence that’s normal. Continue reading “Seeking His face as the solace for turbulent times” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The other evening I was standing at the edge of the hayfield, and the blue cornflowers gave a wonderful tinge that mirrored the sky, and the burnt sienna hay tips rustled in the breeze, showing where the wind had been. The birds swooped over the field looking for insects and I thought, how peaceful, how peaceful. This is my life, and it is wonderful.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Continue reading “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace” →