WE ARE TAUGHT, FROM THE TIME WE ARE YOUNG, that we must become masters of so many things. We are to master our English or mathematics lessons. We are to master our piano or trumpet lessons. We are to master our relationships. In some sense, if we are to succeed in our life we must master our worlds, not matter how limited or large they may be.
This call to mastery extends to the life of the follower of Jesus Christ as well. We are to master our prayer life, and the handling of the Holy Scriptures. We are to master living the Spirit-filled life and the work of witnessing. Once again, we seek to master our world, but the problem is as Christians we are not called to be masters, but to be mastered. We are called to the role of servants not sovereigns.
This problem often raises its ugly head in how we deal with God’s Word. We come to it seeking to discover the “secrets to successful living,” or to discover God’s will of our lives, or to unearth the one golden nugget that will solve the crisis in which we presently find ourselves. True, the Holy Scriptures can help us to live, and it can give us direction for our lives, and yes, it can even help us deal with the present problem, but the Word of God was given for a much deeper reason.
The Word of God is just that, the Word of God. It is God’s Voice to us. It is that which helps us to know God. It is His revelation of His character and His desire. It is not about us, but about Him. And what an awesome reality that is. God, the sovereign creator, has revealed Himself to us, His image-bearing creation. God, in His love and grace, has made Himself known to us. How cool is that?! And, what better reason to devour its truth?
I guess, with taking some liberty in quoting Scripture, we could say, “For God so loved the world He sent His Word…” (John 3:16 and John 1:1, 14) May we all handle this Holy Book for the Holy Word that it is, and let’s read on.

PASTORAL PRAYER; IT’S ONE OF THE THINGS a pastor is expected to do. We “invocate” at the beginnings of meetings, and “benedict” at the end, and in between we are expected to pray in the language of King James, while communicating the needs and feelings of those present. All the while not sounding too ecclesiastical. The pastor is expected to be bedside at the hospital and nearby the deathbed. The pastor is called upon to pray at the dedication of children, bless the wedding union, and give thanks at the crossing of milestones. Prayer is what a pastor does.
But, those are not the only places that pastoral prayers are heard. In fact, I have been the recipient of numerous pastoral prayers that were never prayed by an official pastor. They were prayers that were prayed for me, prayers of intercession and prayers of blessing.
One such “unofficial” pastor was our dear sister-in-the-Lord, Ruth Freeman. A visit to Ruth always ended not with my “Amen,” but with hers. We would take time to visit, to share about the great things God had done, and that God was doing, and then as I would prepare to leave I would take time to pray. But, as I concluded my intercession, Ruth would begin to pray for me, and how she could pray. If, through my prayers, I opened the door to heaven, Ruth took us right to the throne of God. I believe there were no introductions needed when Ruth entered into the presence of God for she was well known, because she had been there very often.
Ruth prayed pastoral prayers, that is, she prayed for the pastor. Her conversations with God were intimate, sweet, and honest. When the final “Amen” was uttered I was the one who had been blessed. I had come to lift her spirit, and always it was mine that was lifted. I came to be a blessing, but was blessed much more. I shall miss those pastoral prayers, hopefully they will continue for of this thing I am sure, Ruth is in the presence of the Lord, well-known and well-loved.
Ruth, thank you for praying…it made a difference.