Prayer is as important to a Christian's walk with God as water is to a fish's chance of survival. If I didn't talk to the Lord many times a day, I believe I would be a very miserible person.

God must think I am such a whiner because it seems I am always begging him to numb the pain and sadness I always seem to feel. I am a post-menopausal woman and I don't know if I am just doomed to this feeling.

Mary Jean,
God doesn't think you are a whiner at all. The pastor said it best, he's our best friend. The perfect father who wants us all to be happy.
He loves us all very much!
Blessings!

Mary Jean,
Remember in scripture it says "this too will pass." Keep praying and know that God is with you as you are going through it.

Hi, Mary Jean. Have you ever tried keeping a thankful journal? Just daily making a list of the many things provided by God...all the little things we take for granted such as warm water for a shower, the beauty of the flowers in bloom, the ability to move and think, and of course, the means and ability to connect with other Christians over the internet here at RFTH. When you start listing all the good gifts from God you will not focus so much on whatever losses are making you feel sad.

I pray God will let you feel His comforting presence during your times of sadness and that those times of being down will lessen day by day as You sense the active goodness of His work in your life. Realize His great love for you!

"This too shall pass" actually originates with medieval Muslim poets. It is not found in the Bible.

Speaking of Islam, how y'all feel about the Mosque at Ground Zero?

Sorry, JCO, that is completely off topic, so we won't be talking about the mosque at ground zero. Try to remember the rules to which we agreed some time ago. Posts not too long, nothing offensive to the other people posting, and stay on topic. Contrary to what you posted earlier, we DO NOT delete more than a fraction of your posts, and that's when you just totally go over the line. Not too long ago, you stated that you were not going to post anymore until they prove that unicorns exist. Has that happened?

Thank you Janice for the lovely post- Always be thankful because there are so many things that we take for granted that we should be thankful for. I was always of the impression, until resently, that whenever I am praying I have to close my eyes. Not until one evening at our choir rehersal when a visiting pastor was praying for us and she said "With eyes open and beholding our brothers and sisters, handmade of God. Let us pray." We did not close our eyes during the prayer and you could feel the presence of the Lord in our midst just like other times when our eyes were closed. It is not how we pray that is important but the converstaion that we have with our best friend- Christ Jesus. RFTH- Keep up the great work as we continue to pray for your ministry so that souls may be born for God's kingdom through these devotions.
Be blessed and continue to pray without ceasing....

RFTH, you deleted one today! How can you say that you never delete my posts?

I don't see how expressing an opinion is "going over the line." Contrary to what you think, not everything that you hear is meant to be a greeting card.

Jonathan, we are not going to get into a debate with you. We did not delete one of your posts today and if you will re-read our comment to you, we said RFTH only deletes a fraction of your comments, not that we never do. You will notice that we did not delete your comment about the mosques. We just said it was off topic and re-iterated the criteria to which you agreed to post on this site, as well as quoted your own words about when you would post again. Bottom line: this website is the property of Right From The Heart and we can choose to keep or delete any comments we deem appropriate to the standards we maintain as a ministry. If you don't like our standards, feel free to move on.

God bless you, Jonathan. We harbor no ill-will toward you or anyone else who doesn't agree with our beliefs; but you, especially, seem to harbor much disdain for us and for other Christians commenting on our site - those who are truly looking for spiritual growth and encouragement.

We will continue to pray for God to reveal Himself to you in a way that you cannot deny.

Thank you, RFTH, for your kind treatment of JCO and Erik. Your comment inspired me to pray once again along with you.

I have the feeling that JCO and Erik are attracted to this site because they somehow think there is a prize or award to be won by converting someone to their way of thinking. They are putting much effort into their reach for false gold. The real treasure is found here for this site is all about God and His word.

When my son was young and we took him to Stone Mountain to climb the mountain he was intent on climbing each small rock pile along the way up the mountain not realizing we were walking upon the really big piece of granite. JCO and Erik make that memory come to mind because they are stuck on the small stuff and can't see the big stuff. I pray the magnitude of what they have been missing will soon dawn upon them. I really want the best for them. I want them to be my brothers in Christ. I want them to be able to say, "I once was blind, but now I see."

I would like to talk about the purpose of a “daily devotional”. Generally, it is time set aside for thought/reflection/meditation and self-examination. A Christian daily devotional is one centered on Christ. It is “Quiet Time” with him. It involves thought/reflection/meditation and self-examination set against the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. It is also a time to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our life, heart and soul. I assume that RFTH provides this site to facilitate Christians, and those interested in Christian teaching, in focusing their minds Jesus and on the “Christian Life”. That it wishes to enhance the devotional experience and assist in “the renewing of our minds”. And to welcome all sincere seekers of the truth.

For some time this site has been “hijacked” and turned into a daily “debational”. Any thought that I might have had about the sincerity and goodwill of certain participants has long since been proved wrong. They come here with a frivolous and cavalier attitude. Their comments are capricious, mean spirited and even blasphemous at times. There is no good intention on their part and yet we ( I ) allow them to sidetrack and disrupt what should be beneficial time of day for us. I doubt that they will be dissuaded from continuing, but I intend cease to allow myself to be diverted. It serves no good purpose. To the contrary, it serves an evil purpose.

I have read several of the comments Eric & JCO have posted and I can see where God has given them the gift of humor and a curiosity for his word. Why else would they continue to read the comments here or come to this site. I feel God has lead them here to observe what christians are like and what they believe. We are a testimony of his Love and the Truth of his word. We are to love the unlovely and pray for our enemies. I pray we can show them how he works in our lives and his love for them as well. This may be the only place they come to read God's word and see for themselves that it is real and it does work. I say we pray for them and see what God does.

"Debational"- that's a good one, Grant.

You know what would make me happy- if you folks would read the Bible and focus on it as much as you do my comments and this devotional. I know it's boring but really, give it a try. I promise you will learn stuff if you stick with it.

Prayer is a wonderful gift. We have a gentleman who has been attending our church for a couple of years, he is in his late seventy's. He has been under conviction for over a year but he would not accept the Lord because of his background, and mean ways. This past week he finally accepted the Lord, and he had child like look about himself as he sat in the service and he finally enjoyied one of our services. This came through prayer. Keep praying for those you love and come in contact with, it works.

That's the best suggestion Erik has ever made. Paul said that the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles, a stumbling block to the Jews and the very work of God to the believer. So, your reaction to it will pretty much put you into one of those categories. Read it and let the Holy Spirit open your heart.

I also recommend the books Reading the Bible Again for the First Time and Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg.

Sincerely praying for all that visit this site and are without Christ. God bless

Actually Janice, I resent the allegation that I am "stuck on the small stuff and can't see the big stuff." I would actually argue the opposite, that you are stuck on the small stuff, and can't see the big stuff.

For one, there are vast fields of Biology, Physics and Chemistry that you sight unseen reject because you are focused on the small stuff.

You refuse to see and accept the vast diversity of humans, cultures, beliefs, and values worldwide, because you are focused on the small stuff.

You limit your life, because you are focused on the small stuff.

Mary Jean,
Getting back to your comment, I would encourage you to immerse yourself in the Scriptures to behold who you are in Christ, Who He is, and what He has done for you. When you fall on your face at the foot of the cross, your problems become so small. The Lord takes us through trials to see where we have been, see where we are and what we are really trusting in, and to see where we are going as He deals with our pride and His glory revealed in us.
For JCO and Erik I am being faithful to my Lord to pray for you both and believe that you are involved in prejustification sanctification and are being brought under the hearing of the truth by the Holy Spirit until the time your eyes are opened to the truth of your sin and need for the Savior. I think the birth is not too far away.