One Must Stop Reading the Bible or...

Those few visits [to the sick and poor] used up the very time I usually spend in drawing. But on the whole I am glad I went with Mother because it has gratified her. Besides, one must either stop reading the Bible altogether or else leave off spending one's whole time in just doing easy, pleasant things one likes to do.

~ from Stepping Heavenward

by Elizabeth Prentiss

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

~ James 1:22

Praying for Healing for Luke

I read the following words from Philip Yancey yesterday evening and planned to post them this morning. I never got around to it though; but mid-morning, I learned that a young friend of ours, Luke, was just diagnosed with leukemia. As I grieved at the news, I was reminded of Yancey's words; and they gave me direction and hope.

Dr. Vernon Grounds says that when he hears of someone in need of healing, he prays like this: "God, I know you have your own purposes and undoubtedly have a plan for this person, but I'll tell you straight out what I would like to see happen."

If diagnosed with a serious illness, I would ask directly for physical healing. We are commanded to pray for healing, Jesus decisively demonstrated God's desire for human health and wholeness, and dozens of studies have borne out the effectiveness of prayer in the healing process. Faith works. It aligns body, mind, and spirit, and galvanizes the healing process built into our bodies.

...In prayers for healing, as in all prayers of request, we should honestly present the problem and tell God our heart's desire.

~ Philip Yancey,

in Prayer: Does It Make a Difference?

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

~ James 5:14-15

The Ramban's Letter, Part One

We are preparing to leave for a homeschool convention this weekend, an event I've been looking forward to for a very long time. My anticipation is running high! :) Even though I won't be at a computer every day, I do have daily posts lined up, thanks to Blogger's lovely auto-post feature. The next few days will be a series of quotes from a letter a Jewish rabbi wrote to his son approximately 800 years ago.

Ancient words.

Timeless wisdom.

Biblical truth.

Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin...Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart. This radiant quality is the finest of all admirable traits.

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son, written by Iggeret HaRamban to his elder son, Nachman, with the instruction to read it weekly

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

~ James 1:19-20