Prayer in Mark

Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
- As in Matthew, Jesus makes time to pray, to be alone with His Father.
- God is with us, even in the desolate places.

Mark 6:46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
- After teaching and pouring Himself out, Jesus needed time alone with His Father.
- (If you read the surrounding verses, it seems that Jesus spent several hours in prayer, through most of the night.)

Mark 9:29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
- Jesus drove out a demon through prayer, not something we think about when we contemplate prayer in our American culture.
- Prayer is powerful. Communicating with God Himself is an amazing thing.

Mark 11:24-25 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
- Prayer requires faith and forgiveness.

Mark 13:18 Pray that it may not happen in winter.
- Again, as in Matthew, Jesus cared for the plight of refugees.
- He is concerned with our physical well-being.

Mark 14:32-42 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”[d] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
- Jesus was willing to do the Father's will, but He dreaded it. He felt every human emotion, magnified.
- He repeated His prayer three times, until His will was aligned with His Father's.

Two More Yummy and Super-Easy Recipes

Here are two more recent favorites. And they use your slow-cooker, are super-easy, and freeze well. Three hurrahs!

Honey Garlic Chicken

Mongolian Beef

Three Truths

It is less than a month until David's first birthday...which was yesterday and a lifetime ago. This year I have held tightly to these three statements that I know to be true:
God loves us.
God is good.
God is redeeming all things.

This song is a beautiful reminder of that. I've posted it before, but it's worth another listen. As Easter just reminded us, the redemption day is coming!

We Will Feast, by Sandra McCracken

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

We will not be burned by the fire
He is the LORD our God
We are not consumed, by the flood
Upheld, protected, gathered up

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

In the dark of night, before the dawn
My soul, be not afraid
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

Every vow we've broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom.

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more