Content and Praising

Beginning to sound like a broken record!
I'm so thankful for the fact to be repeated.  As most of us are well aware, this has been an unusually cold winter.  I quit keeping track of how many mornings I crack ice on the stock tanks, but I have been maintaining a count and thankful heart for the number of Sabbaths, there has been no ice to crack.  That one time, single prayer has been answered many times over, and I'm just going to keep right on thanking Him and bearing witness of His faithfulness.

Every week, but one, the ice has been well over an inch think several mornings, with a couple of mornings, the 4 inch chicken water pans, frozen absolutely solid, but every Shabbat, the water is fluid.  I realize this may seem a small matter to many people, but for those of us seeking to be Torah observant while working the land, it's monumental!

Our Creator really does have control over nature, over weather, and the power to answer prayer.  I remember asking a Pastor friend of mine one time, "How many times do we pray a prayer of faith?"  With Scripture addressing importunity, and pray without ceasing, I really wasn't sure.  I don't know if this is ready to be doctrine yet, but . . . when I pray for others, I mention them again before the throne as they come to my heart and mind.  When I pray for something for myself, and it comes to mind, I thank YHWH for hearing that prayer.  In all prayer, I am now also including a question.  Is there something He would like me to do or say, to bring glory to Him.

Our Heavenly Father answers so many prayers, and provides so many things we don't even think about asking, not to mention protection from so many things we don't even see.  It was such a blessing this morning as I poured my first cup of coffee and the verse in Philippians about being content came to mind.  I told Abba, I truly was content and I thanked Him for that.  What a delight it was, to discover it's in this week's reading!

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.