Where are all the great "Thinkers" in our time?

I am definitely not a history buff, however I do recall the philosophers and as I remember it, the great thinkers in the olden days. Today it would seem nobody has time to sit and think. We are too busy on the move or letting all the distractions that come our way rob us of the wonderful time to sit and ponder on important things as well as just little silly things.

Let me begin these thoughts with the fact I am guilty of all.

This morning the thought came across so loudly to me as while studying and in my prayer time also. Why do we put so much energy and focus on the dying of a Saint, which is simply dropping their body suits as they pass through the next door.

We ask prayer, and we should; we spend many hours at times worrying or trying to think of ways to minister to this soul. Yet one comes and asks Jesus as their Savior, whereby they can enter that same door that saint will soon enter, and we say thank you Lord, go about our business and many times never pray for that person.

At funerals we have what now is termed as celebrations, many kind words, and a feast is thrown for the family and that is as it should be, but what happened to the feast and celebration of a newborn christian? We barely have follow up classes to help mature new Christians.

Another thing that seems to be neglected would be an alter call for those facing perilous times with their health or with some burden in their families. Most people probably reach back to their personal experiences to grasp the way things are performed today or ways to perform their actions. In my personal experience, I recall when a woman was so very sick with cancer and her future looked bleak. Everyone gathered around the alter and prayed for her. I don't recall that she was there at the time, but I do recall that we all prayed fervently. And the Lord heard the prayer of a righteous man praying an effectual fervent prayer. (James 5:16). Verse 15 states And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. It isn't the power of the one praying, but the power of the one listening that raises up the sick. All we are required to do in this life is fear God and keep his commandments. Ecclesiastes 12:13. That is the whole duty of man.

At this present time we have a precious man in our church that has cancer all over his body and man will say that he will most assuredly die. My focus is stayed on this man and his family. I don't believe any of us want to see him taken home right now. My nature is to try and do something to make it easier for this man and his family. Will words help? Can we carry food over to them and will this help? If we send cards to let them know we are praying for them will that help?

God has our hairs numbered, he created the stars and the galaxies and they are as vast as the grains of the sands on our beaches. It will be his decision to the life span of this man and not what man thinks. He alone has the power to raise up or take home our loved ones. Praise you Lord!

Each of us are made up differently by our creator. And until the time comes none of us truly know what would make a difference to us. I believe it would mean the world to me to have my church family gather around me, lay their tender hands of love on my shoulders and kneel and pray for me. And I would hope every time my name came to their mind there would be a prayer on their lips following. This would be my comfort.

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. This is written on our daughter's tombstone. Even at that time there was such comfort in those words. As I finished this thought the next thought that came to my mind was, "even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus." The author and finisher of our faith is Jesus Christ and our hope is only in him. I don't want to die and I don't want my loved ones or the ones outside my immediate family to die, but I do know my redeemer lives. It may seem very selfish to want the Lord's return to avoid death beds coming, but in my flesh it is there and I cannot deny it.

That desire is also there when news comes that men in China have gone in and chopped to death little children with hatchets. People are covered alive in rubble. Men are lost forever out to sea to never be found in an oil derrick explosion. The oceans are polluted by oil because of man's greed, possibly, to not spend money for safe guards that are there for the buying. Children are being molested, beaten, starved, mentally abused. Families are broken apart and heartache replaces joy and laughter in our homes.

Death is seemingly so small a thing to want the Lord to come back and let us avoid, but how about another soul marching down the road to be delivered into a devil's hell because they did not see Jesus in us? Mercy we cry, grace we pray for, deliverance is our desire.

When I went forward for salvation, I recall our precious youth director and his wife were with me later and they were so happy and concerned for me. As I attended classes on Sunday nights I feel that Bill Jefferey had lesson plans that were to encourage and teach a new convert. He was my hero and he ministered to my spirit. I will never forget he and his wife, how they stood by me, celebrated with me and lived their lives before me to teach me the way of the Lord.

At this present time from all accounts I believe our youth director will also perform this same action for he is burdened for the lost kids that come to class.

Oh! how thankful we are dear Lord to have your Holy Spirit come upon those leading our children and help us to hold him up in prayer as well as those who come into his center of influence.

Children are so very precious and the older I get the more I watch them and see the innocence and the beauty and joy they bring to all of us. As we sit in a school setting, or a church setting, it comes over me like a wave of warm water and I understand why Jesus said, ye must come to me as a little child. I don't know how emotions affect others, but for me every time we have had the ending to a bible school with their little programs and every time the little ones get up to sing praises to the Lord, emotions roll over me afresh and my heart just seems to beat faster and a warmth I cannot describe envelopes my soul, a joy fills my entire being and most of the time I begin to cry. They are so precious. If this is what I feel just watching them; it is unimaginable to me how the Savior feels when they come home to him.

Oh! if only we could do in the flesh as in the spirit, as the bible teaches and cry when they are born and rejoice when they go home to the Lord.