The Following is taken from my Newest Poem Book [# 9] & when Joanne Lowe sent me the lovely Plaque you will see below, I knew I just had to share it here!
"SPIRITUAL PRAYER THOUGHTS!"
© 2005 Patricia L. Carpenter {From Poem Book 9}
Scrip. Ref's.: Mt.26:6-13; Mk.14:1-9; Lk.7:36-50; Jn.11:1-2 & 39-44; Jn.12:1-8.
The following is very difficult for me to lay out as it has so many Scripture References, yet, while I was reading these Scriptures, this is the conclusion I came to from them:
Jesus was in Bethany at Simon the lepers home [Mt.26:6 & Mk.14:3], for a Banquet had been prepared to honor Jesus. Martha, Lazarus' sister, served while Lazarus sat with Jesus at the table, as Jesus had raised him from the dead [Jn.12:2 & Jn.11:39-44].
Simon was a Pharisee [Lk.7:36], & didn't even offer Jesus any water to wash His Feet
[Lk.7:44-46]. He also [see Lk.7:39] thought Jesus was not even a Prophet or He'd have known what kind of woman this was! Jesus read his thoughts!
While eating [Mt.26:7, Mk.14:3, Lk.7:37-38 & Jn.12:3], * Mary (a prostitute-Amplified Version says an especially wicked sinner) Lazarus' sister [see Jn.11:1-2], broke an Alabaster flask (an expensive bottle of perfume) & poured it over His Head & Feet & wept at His Feet & wiped them with her hair (for Jesus had forgiven all her sin [Lk.7:39-50].
The Disciples were indignant & thought it a waste of precious money that could have been used for the poor. Judas spoke up to Jesus about it, yet he didn't even care for the poor, as he was stealing from the very funds they used for them!
Jesus spoke up [Mt.26:10-13, Mk.14:6-9 & Jn.12:7-8] & told them not to criticize & berate her for doing a good thing; for she was anointing Him for His burial! Her deed would always be remembered & praised wherever The Good News was preached throughout the entire World. After all, the poor would always be around for them to help, but He would be leaving them very soon.
* If you put these Scriptures in its True Perspective (in my opinion) ~ that Mary, Lazarus' sister [Jn.11:1-2] (not Mary Magdalene), was the prostitute ~& realize how much Jesus really Loved this Family [Jn.11:5] (while she was a sinner-Rom.5:8) & never stuck His nose in the air while around her~ NO WONDER she came & wept at His Feet & sought forgiveness of her sins ~ because He was doing what He commanded His Disciples (& us) to DO ~ "LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!" [Jn.15:12].
Jesus' Prayer [Jn.17:26] ~ "That the love wherewith Thou (God) hast loved Me (Jesus) may be in them (the Disciples & us)". Added (emphasis) mine.
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Oh, dear Jesus, I have Prayed to BE Your ANSWER to Your unanswered Prayers to The Father & You had to make me see how very much You TRULY love the sinner ~ & ate with them & taught them, making me see how very much I am NOT filled full to overflowing with Your Love in me! Thus You must needs empty me of "SELF" so You can fill me with Your Love so that it flows out to EVERYONE I see.
Forgive me, Lord! I am the one FULL OF PRIDE & 'self' ~ for if I didn't have You ~ Who knows what I'd be today? AND ~ ALL SIN is terrible in Your Sight! Especially the sin of Pride [Prov.6:16-19], as it ranks right up there with the six other things You hate! In fact, it is listed FIRST (1st)! I guess so that when we begin to read that list we DON'T get all puffed up because we don't do some of them!? ~ Lets list them here:
1. Haughtiness (Pride, arrogance)
2. Lying (our tongue)
3. Murdering (our hands)
4. Plotting evil (our heart)
5. Eagerness to do wrong (our feet)
6. A 'false' witness (our lips)
7. Sowing discord among 'brothers' (calculating gossip among Christians, casting
doubt on a person's reputation/character. (Even raising our eyebrows or giving
a 'questioning' tone of voice when someone is speaking a persons name can be
'sowing discord' as well - Think about it).
Oh, let the purity of JESUS inside me (since I have given my heart to You & asked You to come in & LIVE there) be RELEASED to the World around me! Replace my hardened heart in THIS AREA & melt & mold me in the fire of Your Furnace so that I'll be the person You want me to be.
Souls are dying without You & my judgmental critical spirit is keeping me from Total Obedience to Your Will for my life:
H E L P!, Lord, Help!
For Your Kingdom is at hand & I must be ready to help others to meet You! Do I REALLY care about them? Help me Lord, to really care as YOU care for them & to SEE others as You see them ~even myself~ for I am beginning to turn against myself again. It says to Love others as you do yourself ~ so Please help me to get the right perspective (which is Your perspective) of me. Thank You! 1/14/2004
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Oh, dear Lord, my 'ego' we must kill
So that I can DO Your Will!
Amen! Patricia
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Dear Lord, I can't do it 'without' You!
1/15/2004
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