A strange thing happened on the way to the party. The cloud went away. The cloud went away and apparently no one noticed. Following God's blueprint, the Israelites had built a portable church as they trekked across the desert toward the promised land. Its most unique feature was the cloud that hovered over it by day, which became a pillar-like fire in the sky at night. It was the symbol of the very presence of God. Other nations had armies. Other nations had chariots. Other n

Jesus and I are prayer partners. He intercedes for me. When the "accuser of the brethren" stands before the Father to accuse me, (and by the way, Satan can make an air-tight case against me without even exaggerating), Jesus steps to my defense and says, "My blood, Father, my blood. Those sins have already been forgiven. Look; They're no longer on the book!" The universe looks on in bewildered astonishment. I'm not sure I understand all that "intercede" means, but one meaning

He often answers before we ask. Have you noticed that? He longs to give us things we never even think to ask for. His desire to give is far greater than our capacity to receive. He wants to meet needs we don't even know we have. What a God. It seems to me this raises the question, though, if the above statements are true, of why we pray. I seem to get along pretty well with very little knee-time. In my church it often seems quite routine and I seldom see tongues of fire. So m