When thoughts of something just won't go away, and when they are of good things, we can be pretty sure they are God's desire for us. If we've prayed about it and are still not sure of the answer, we may not be able to recognize we already have it! Sometimes the positive answer we receive may seem too easy, or we could expect the answer to be "No."

For several years, I had a desire in my heart. It's one of those things that just wouldn't go away: I wanted to complete my education. My schooling was initially interrupted through marriage and having children, but still the feeling came back often that I needed to finish what I had started. I went through several changes and moves. After settling down each time, the desire came back again. It was such a quiet urging that I often overlooked it. I reasoned the idea away and busied myself with other things.

There was also another desire I had. It would interrupt my thoughts while in prayer and it attracted my attention in the mall as I shopped. It also appeared to be a good thing. I finally learned that it was a temptation and not from God. When the day came that I boxed up all my sewing materials and took them to the ladies at the church who were making quilts for the underprivileged, I had my answer. With the fabrics out of sight, they were also out of my mind and I could think more clearly.

Books were then placed in my hands for a course that I could take by correspondence and by which I would be able to finish my college work with a Christian university. When all was complete and the paperwork was finished, I felt the peace that comes from walking in the steps of the Lord.

I was happy to realize my life was a part of a way the Lord had designed for me all along. Just as He had a plan for my salvation, He also had an ongoing process for my life on earth. He began bringing wholeness to me years ago and He has continued to help me be faithful. He had shown me that I could have the desire of my heart — if I would let Him work it in me!

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for not giving up on us, but for encouraging us by your Spirit to go on through the trials and processes of life. Help us to see that your answers to life's questions are there all the time. Help us also to be true to You and to our calling of faith to serve you. Amen.

One of the household chores that I avoid doing as long as possible is the ironing. Not that I mind doing it, actually it's just that the idea of it seems so confining. It's not nearly as interesting as some other projects I have on my personal agenda.

When I was a young girl, my mother did most of the ironing on Tuesdays. Monday was always wash day, and we had a wringer washer and big tubs for rinsing. The sudsy water was recycled and used first for light colours, then medium, and finally the dark clothes. We never did wash on another day. Life was simple then. But now my washer goes almost every day and the ironing seems to be always waiting for me.

The funny thing is that when I do iron, it becomes a blessing. As I press out the wrinkles in cottons, perma-press shirts and linens, I find I am ironing out the wrinkles on my brow. Answers to things that have been a trouble to me seem to come to my mind as I iron. There's something about the quietness of the moment and the simplicity of the task that causes me to free up. Not only does the project become therapeutic, it becomes almost holy. I sense the Lord's presence, and hear His still, small voice. The pieces of my puzzle begin to come together to complete the picture of the problem I am working on in my mind.

There was a saint in the church who found much solace and joy in the presence of the Lord as he worked in the kitchen and washed the pots and pans. His name was Brother Lawrence. He is known for his work, The Practice of the Presence of God. He had an ongoing relationship with his Lord that was not dependent upon his being on his knees or sitting in his chair reading God's word. Oh, there were times for that; but the Lord's presence was with him every day, all day long.

Another holy person who "walked with God" is only mentioned briefly in the Bible. His name was Enoch. The Bible says that he did not die, but that "he was not". (Genesis 5:24 RSV). Although a seemingly insignificant person by today's standards and mega-ministries, it is believed that Enoch was simply taken up into heaven. He walked with God, like Adam did before the fall.

Most of us are everyday people, doing everyday chores and work. Not all are preachers or in special ministries. Have we overlooked the value of the mundane work we are called to do, even though it allows us to have a certain freedom to hear from God? We can "practice the presence of God" if we practice being like Jesus who "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38 RSV). Perhaps the world needs to see the Gospel according to you and me — even when we find ourselves washing the dishes and ironing the shirts!

Prayer: Help us, O Father, to be content with our lives and to be happy in knowing Your presence with us in everything we do. Bless our hearts, our hands and our minds, as we set about our daily work in Your name, and help us to hear what you are saying to us. Amen.

There's a sign on the side of the road coming into a small town in northwest Florida. It's been there for years, with a simple statement to those who drive by: "Jesus loves you. He's coming soon." Nestled in the trees and shrubs, it could almost be missed, but it's close to the road and the words are clear. The woman who placed the small sign there is already in heaven. She is my husband's mother, and her words are still there for travellers on life's journey. Not many of the family live there now, so we go from time to time to clean the sign and make sure it can be seen by passersby. We hope there may be still another who catches the message that "Jesus loves you."

As tumult roars about our nations and our world on every side, it is obvious that there are not enough people in the world who know the reality of Jesus and His love. We sing the song, I love to tell the story, but to how many have we actually told the story? How many who do not know Jesus have heard the story? So often we find ourselves "singing to the choir", when it's not the choir who needs to hear. Or is it? Could it be the reason the world is so deprived of God's love is that we, who are the church, still do not truly know the love of the Lord? Have we learned a formula that seems to work, but often misses the mark? Has the world missed our message of the gospel — or have we missed something in its telling?

Jesus prayed for His disciples shortly before His death. He also prayed for us: "that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:22 KJV) That oneness is what will bring the world into God's kingdom and out of the bleak darkness of today's despair and unhappiness. The vacuum in people's lives that leads them into the darkness of alcohol, drugs, crime and eventual spiritual death can only be dispelled by something far greater. When many who are the truly lost see the "truly loved of Christ", they will surely come running to the truth that can set them free! They will know it's real. It's all within the love we develop ourselves by having an ongoing and loving relationship with our Lord.

He's coming soon! "Soon" may be today, tomorrow or years down the road. We can have the opportunity to share that message with someone today — if we will ask the Lord to arrange it! Tomorrow may be too late, and someone could be left out because we failed to speak a word of love and encouragement to them. Heaven is coming soon. Let's try to fill it up fast while the sun still shines!

Prayer: Father, help us get the message out to the highways and byways where the need to know your love is so great. Help us also to know the love of Jesus Christ in ways we may have never known before, and give us the strong desire to make His name known to those in our world. Amen.

Some of us need reminding about things, especially when it comes to praying for others. It's easy to remember our own needs over those of others, and especially over those who are not so close to home. Recently, my husband found a photo of Jerusalem while reading their international newspaper online. He configured our computer's mouse so we could change the monitor's "wallpaper" by a right click, and he selected a picture showing the city of Jerusalem. Now it is there all day long as a reminder to me to pray for Jerusalem.

Never before has there been a greater need to pray for peace in this Holy Land. We know by biblical prophecy that war cannot be averted forever; but when that happens is in the Lord's hands. We do know that we are told to pray for Jerusalem. The reward is great: "they shall prosper that love [Jerusalem]."

But how can we elaborate on our prayer, other than to say, "Send peace, Lord"? Under the old covenant, peace offerings were given as an assurance to Israel of the grace of God and His continuing mercy and fellowship with them. This was the only way the Hebrew children could know God's grace before Christ. Then when the angels came to Bethlehem to announce the new-born King, they spoke forth for all eternity: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." (Luke 2:14) Since then, mankind has had the opportunity to know the peace that lasts forever.

The Hebrew word for peace is "shalom", and it means "wholeness". We have all had many reasons to need God's peace. We need to be whole, as our world needs the same. We don't always know how to pray for it, but we can know the simple way of turning to God once we know Christ. My own life was a shambles before I experienced the healing of my emotions and God's peace that followed. Now I have an ongoing relationship with the Saviour. No matter what might come my way, I know The Way and I can turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace talks seldom get the job done. Jerusalem can only know peace as a nation in the way that a Christian can know peace individually. We so often need to have the peace that comes when we can finally turn our cares over to the Lord. Then He becomes our Lord. Jesus will be Lord over His kingdom here on earth one day and at that time Jerusalem will have the one, true peace. For now, our best prayer is to pray for the salvation of souls in all of Israel and beyond.

We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in the same way we might pray for ourselves, our families, friends and nation. Let us pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to bring souls to Christ and His righteousness. Let us pray for shalom throughout the whole earth.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the peace of the world, for peace in Jerusalem and for peace in our own nation. Bring peace to our hearts in troublesome times and help us to remember to pray for the peace of those around us. In Jesus' name. Amen.