Anything-Everything

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

(1 Thes. 5:16-18 NIV)

Sometimes the most "cheerful" words in the Bible are the hardest to live out.  In these two passages Paul is reminding us that God is in control and that he wants us to come to him in prayer no matter what.  No problem, right?

But, really?  Don't be anxious about anything?  There's so much in our crazy world that can lead to anxiety.  But God says to use prayer and thanksgiving - in EVERY situation - to ask for God's help. "Every situation" means "every situation."   In every situation we come to our faithful God asking in faith, sharing our thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do, and trusting that he responds - in EVERY situation.  Even when we can't see the response yet. 

Then Paul tells us to "rejoice always." Really?!?  "Always??"  That's, like, all the time and in all circumstances.  Sometimes there doesn't seem to be much to rejoice about.  Life on this earth - especially if lived without God - can seem overwhelming, terrible, and hopeless.  But when we live life in relationship with God we can always find at least one thing to be thankful about.  Did you wake up breathing today?  Did the sun come up (even if behind the clouds)?  Do you have electricity?  Often when we find one thing with which to give thanks, we then realize how many other things are also worth thanks.  

I do not believe that our rotten circumstances are necessarily God's will for us. If Jesus wants to give us the abundant life (John 10:10) then "abundance" includes love, joy, peace, hope, grace, and so much more.  Rotten circumstances are, ultimately, the result of the enemy of our souls, stealing, killing, destroying lives, relationships, resources, etc.  While I believe God allows this to happen (for what reasons I don't usually know or understand), I do not believe that this is what God intended for us.  

Can God use rotten circumstances to refine and improve our character and our understanding of who God is?  Absolutely.  But just because God can work all things together for good for those who love him, doesn't mean he wants us to have trials, death, and destruction.  God's purpose for us - God's will for our lives - is to know his love, joy, hope, grace, mercy, and peace. 

No matter the circumstances I believe that God wants to give us his Peace.  That "shalom" is beyond everything we could understand without God.  And it guards our hearts and our minds - our spirits, our words, our deeds, our thoughts, our hopes - because of Christ Jesus.  God's Peace gives us Hope in the midst of rotten circumstances.

Is not being anxious but rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances easier said than done?  Yes. But it's still do-able.  And, like anything we practice, the more we do it the easier it becomes.  

For anything, in everything, bring it to God. 

Father God,

Thank you that in all things - not "for" all things - but "in" all things - we can rejoice in you, your faithfulness, your provision, your grace, and so much more.  Thank you that by the Blood of Christ you have made a way for us to draw near to you.  Thank you that we can bring all our hurts, struggles, anxieties, and confusion to you and that you will hear us when we pray.  Holy Spirit, help us to saturate each day in prayer, offering our faith-filled requests to you with overflowing gratitude.  Help us to tell you each detail of our lives, knowing that your perfect plan for us is a life lived within the grace of Jesus Christ, so that your joy is our continual feast .  Help us to remember that you can work all things together for our good - for an abundant life - and that your wonderful peace that transcends our understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. Help us in everything and for anything to bring it to you. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ." (Philippians 4:6-7 TPT)


"Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:16-18 TPT)

"A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!" (John 10:10 TPT)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Enemy-occupied Territory

"Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going." 

(from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis*)

Why does CS Lewis say that our world is "enemy occupied territory?"  Well, would a merciful and gracious God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness really cause all the horrible things we see in this world? 

No.

The evil and horrible things we see in this world are the work of the enemy of our souls, the one whose first twisting questions in the Garden of Eden have led to so much death and destruction.   The Garden's first seemingly no-big-deal conversation is like a leaking bathroom water line that drips, drips, drips and eventually leads to wet plaster, mold, and a full-blown mess.  The only way to get rid of such mess is to gut the entire affected area, dry it out, and rebuild with new supplies.

And that's what Jesus did on the cross.  His death, resurrection, and ascension were God's way of gutting the entire sin-soaked earth and rebuilding with new supplies of love, grace, mercy, peace, joy, and hope. 

When King Jesus landed on earth in the form of a baby in a manger, it was as the rightful King who landed in disguise ready to sabotage the enemy's work in this world.  The enemy knew what Jesus's life would be - that's why he tried to take out the baby while still in the womb, by having King Herod kill infants around Bethlehem, and later by tempting Jesus in the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The enemy has always known he can't win over God.  But, he can create a lot of pain, hurt, destruction and carnage.

That's why being a Jesus-follower means living a life that sabotages the enemy's plans.  We could easily slide into the easy life of this world - accepting whatever ideas come along and living whatever way we want, even participating in the destruction and carnage. However, when we live life as Jesus-followers, we purpose, we plan, we work to become more like Jesus. We go against the grain of our wider culture and we sabotage the enemy's desires to keep us from God.  

We read our Bibles faithfully, we pray faithfully, we meet together regularly with other believers for worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.  The writer of Hebrews calls us to "provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." All this leads to transformation in our lives - and sabotage of the enemy's plans. The Apostle Paul writes, "[W]e are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."  (2 Cor. 3:18)

What are you doing today that participates in the sabotage of the plans of the enemy and strengthens your relationship to God? 

God of Mercy and Grace,

We bless your name and thank you that you are slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and continually calling us into deeper relationship with Jesus.  Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to never fail or abandon us. Give us courage and strength; remind us that we don't need to be afraid because you go before us.  Keep us always in your Word, Prayer, and Fellowship with other believers so that we can be transformed into the image of your Son Jesus Christ and so that we can counter the attacks of the enemy of our souls.  Holy Spirit, lead us and guide us in your righteousness and make our ways straight on the paths you have for us.  In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15 NRSV)

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25 NRSV)

"And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG)

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before [your enemies]. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

"Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me." (Psalm 5:8 NIV)

  

*Mere Christianity. Copyright © 1952, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1980, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 

January 30, 2021 Prayer - Protected by God

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for making heaven and earth, for creating us in the image of Christ, and for continuing to give us all the beautiful gifts of this life.  Thank you that your Way is perfect and your Word is flawless; you shield all who take refuge in you.  No matter the circumstances we face, thank you that our true help, security, and protection comes from you.  Thank you for guarding and guiding us, never letting us stumble or fall without comforting us with your presence.  Thank you that you never forget or ignore us; you are never asleep.  You are always at our sides to shelter us safely in your presence and protect us from danger.  We ask and pray in Jesus's name that you would protect us from every form of attack, sin, evil or calamity - in body, mind, soul, spirit, immune systems, livelihood, property, or relationships.  Hide our souls in the cleft of you, our Rock, when it seems this dry and thirsty world is overwhelming.  Guard us, protect us, and arm us with strength.  Hide our lives in the depth of your Love, we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:17-18 NIV)

"I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.

But then I realize that our true help and protection

come only from the Lord,

our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.

He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.

God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.

He will never slumber nor sleep;

he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.

Jehovah himself will watch over you;

he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.

He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.

He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity

as he continually watches over you.

You will be guarded by God himself.

You will be safe when you leave your home

and safely you will return.

He will protect you now,

and he’ll protect you forevermore!"  (Psalm 121 TPT)

"As for God, his way is perfect:

    The Lord’s word is flawless;

    he shields all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

    And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

    and keeps my way secure." (Psalm 18:30-32 NIV)

"He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

  That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

  And covers me there with His hand,

    And covers me there with His hand." (Fannie J. Crosby)

January 29, 2021 Prayer - Courage for Victory in this Moment of History

Reigning God,

Thank you for being our King of Glory - our Lord Almighty.  You are the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow and nothing surprises you.  We do not know what the future holds, but we do know that we are in a VERY unique moment of history.  While some parts of this present moment are hard, discouraging, and exhausting, we are being given opportunities to hold fast to your Word and your Truth.   Help us to band together with other Christian brothers and sisters who pray, seek You, and press forward with hope for solutions to problems and victory over wickedness and evil.  We thank and praise you that you are not surprised by the days we are living in; your promises are sure and your grace and mercies endure forever. When the battles in our individual lives and in the life of this nation seem overwhelming, help us to remember that you never ignore or forsake your people.  Even when you judged the nation of Judah for her sins and sent her into exile, your grieving prophets lovingly promised the people that their exile would not last forever - that they would return to the Promised Land.  Help us, your praying Church, to shake off defeat, disbelief, and discouragement and have the courage of Joshua and Caleb to slay the spiritual giants in our Promised Land.  Help us to seize this moment in history with prayer, hope, and rejoicing because you are on your throne, you reign, and you will never be defeated.  In Christ's strong name we pray, Amen!


"Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory." (Psalm 24:10 NIV)

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you...The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 NIV)

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!

For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

For His mercy endures forever:" (Psalm 136:1-3 NIV)

“Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, 'The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.'  But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. The Lord said to Moses, 'How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?'”  (Numbers 14:5-11 NIV)

Busted

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

Ever been 'busted' by God? I got busted a couple of nights ago about my attitude toward our political "leaders" -- and convicted that instead of raging against the machine, I should be praying.

Not the first thing I wanted to do.

But, check this out from Paul's second letter to Timothy:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (2:1-4 NLT)

And then I read this in a book of blessings to read over your children:

I bless you with authority in prayer that transforms the leaders over you. May your authorities grow to have high values because of your intercession for them. May your authorities learn how to skillfully lead those under them according to those values. I bless you with living in a peaceful community because of the high values of its leaders. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I bless you.*

So, still rather unenthusiastically, I have begun anew to pray for our political/civic leaders. I know that prayer is our best weapon against the ungodliness, foolishness, and hurtful spite in our political system - turning these things meant for evil into prayer that leaders and authorities would be turned toward and tuned into God's heart and wisdom.

As you know, we are coming up to a massively important midterm election. Would you join with me in praying for our current leaders, the decisions we the electorate are going to make Nov. 2 and the future of our nation?

Lord, You have told us

Lord, You have promised

That if Your people would pray

That You would hear from heaven

And You would send Your mercy

And touch us with Your strong healing hand

So we're calling out to You

Crying out to You

Forgive us of our sin

Heal our land

As we seek Your holy face

We turn from all our wicked ways

Hear from heaven even now

As we pray**

God, we pray for all those in political leadership and authority over us - from our local governments, through our county and state, and including the federal government. We pray for each person, asking that your Spirit would draw them to you and that they would seek first your wisdom for the decisions they make. We give thanks for people who are willing to serve in leadership and pray that this leadership would be in Spirit-led, God-ordained directions. We seek to live peaceful and quiet lives and know that our governments' decisions can have a huge impact on that . We pray that if any of these officials do not yet know the love, grace, and joy of Jesus Christ that you would even now be working on their heart and spirit so they may know your truth and come into your kingdom.

We pray for the transformation of our governmental bodies into healthy, God-honoring, dignified units. May these authorities grow to have high values because of their relationships with you. May they learn how to skillfully lead others according to godly values. May our community, county, state, and nation be peaceful because of the godly integrity and values you have placed within them.

Forgive us when we do not want to pray as you call us to. Help our nation turn to you for its hope and salvation. Heal us of all unrighteousness and selfishness.

We pray in the name of Christ...heal our land. Amen.

* from Pure Joy by Crystal Wade & Arthur Burk p. 64.

**"Calling Out To You" by Tommy Walker

© 2001 Doulos Publishing (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)

CCLI Song No. 3431898

Listen to your children praying

Lord, listen to Your children praying,

Lord, send Your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to Your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace!

Something's gonna happen
Like the world has never known
When the people of the Lord
Get down to pray.
A door's gonna swing open,
And the walls come atumblin' down,
When the people of the Lord
Get down to pray.

Lord, listen to Your children praying,
Lord, send Your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to Your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace!

And He's gonna take over,
And He's gonna take control,
He's gonna move the mountains,
Make the waters roll,
When the people of the Lord
Get down to pray.

Lord, listen to Your children praying,
Lord, send Your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to Your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace!

You're gonna know it

When the Lord stretches out His hand

And the people of the Lord get down to pray

There's gonna be a brand new song

Of victory in this land

When the people of the Lord get down to pray

Lord listen to Your children praying

Lord send Your Spirit in this place

Lord listen to Your children praying

Send us love send us power send us grace *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4QT8auk6u0&feature=related

I will save you from the stories of why I'm wrestling with this now, but I will say a couple of things. First, I am "ongoingly" convicted by the call to be an imitator of Christ. And second, I have been challenged recently about the strength of my relationship with God, especially as it has to do with what has been termed a "prayer life." So, I start with a song almost as old as me, but definitely worth hearing again, then move to examples of this Christ we profess to follow, then move to prayer....

... Now it was in those days that Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. ... (Luke 6:12)

... About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John,
and James with him and went up a mountain to pray. ... (Luke 9:28)

... Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray." ... (Mt.26:36)

... Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. ... (Mark 1:35) ... But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ... But he went away by himself to a waste place for prayer. ... (Luke 5:16)

Imitate me as I imitate Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1 GW)

Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, power, and grace. Give us not just the knowledge that it's important to pray, but a heart that wants to spend time with you, and a will that makes it happen. Make us more like Jesus we pray....Amen.

* "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying" by Ken Medema (c) 1973 Hope Publ.

God with us

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" —which means, "God with us."" (Mat. 1:23 NIV)

^1"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1 NIV)

⁷ "But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD." (Jer. 1 NIV)

³¹" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " (Luke 15 NIV)

¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷pray without ceasing; ¹⁸in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes. 5 NIV)

I was listening last night to a sermon by a pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in the Grand Rapids, MI area and was struck and challenged - in a good way - by the overall message of the sermon. It caused [causes] me to reconsider why I do things and why I seek and search for God. Perhaps you have the same tendency I do - to do things for God, or to do things to obey or honor God.

But the pastor's main idea was that what matters most is not what we do for God but that we are with God. Much as Brother Lawrence wrote about being with God, even when peeling potatoes for dinner, or being with God even when up to your ears in baby spit up and diapers, or being with God as you mow or vacuum, or being with God while you clean a closet, or while you drive or while you shop or while you....you get the idea. Are we doing for God or are we being with God?

It's a challenge for me to just be with God, no matter what I'm doing. But maybe this calling is just another example of God showing us his Father-Love, inviting us to crawl up in our Abba Father's lap, and rest under the shelter of his wings.

So today, I invite you to just be with God.

God of Love, we hear your call to us to be with you. Help us to seek first your Kingdom and righteousness and to set aside any striving that hinders us from being with you. Forgive us when we forget to pray unceasingly and to recognize your presence in every moment. Help us to not fear you, but to trust you. Help us to desire to be with you. And then wrap your arms of love around us as we recognize the joy of being with you. Through Christ we pray, amen.

http://marshill.org/teaching/2010/06/20/tortured-by-books/

Weary of waiting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iWj8wPhimE

"We Will Wait"

We will run and not grow weary

We will walk and will not faint

For the Lord will go before us

And His joy will be our strength

Mounting up with wings as eagles

As our spirits start to soar

When we come into His presence

And we wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

For in His presence is fullness of joy

And our strength will be restored

As we wait upon the Lord

CCLI Song No. 833465

© 1992 Integrity's Hosanna! Music

Martin Nystrom | Tricia G. Allen

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water. (Ps. 63:1 NIV)

I've written two blog entries this week and have the start of another one. However, this blog/prayer entry is very specific: I want to pray for the search process for our church's new pastor. We have been without a permanent pastor for 18 months now and actively searching for a year. I am (personally) becoming weary of the process, the waiting, the unknowns - and I'm on the search committee. Tomorrow night we interview (via Skype) three potential candidates.

The past two weeks we have been praying this scripture from Colossians 1 over ourselves and the new pastor. Now I ask you to pray it with us.

⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (NIV)

We pray for knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

We pray that we and he may live a life worthy and pleasing to God, bearing fruit in every good work.

We pray we would continue to grow in the knowledge of God.

We pray we will be strengthened with all power according to God's glorious might.

We pray for great endurance and patience.

We pray for joy to inhabit this situation.

And we join with the words of the Psalmist:

² We have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
our lips will glorify you.

⁴ We will praise you as long as we live,
and in your name we will lift up our hands.

⁵ Our souls will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips our mouths will praise you.

⁷ Because you are my help, we sing in the shadow of your wings.

⁸ Our souls cling to you;
your right hand upholds us. (Ps. 63 NIV)

Uphold us, God; help us not to be weary. Help us run with endurance the race set before us. Help us trust your ways, your thoughts, your timing. Give us strength and hope - and patience. May our hearts be in tune with yours and our spiritual ears be able to hear your voice. May our wills do what you want and may your Kingdom be honored and furthered. In the strong and comforting name of Christ we pray. Amen.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40 NIV)

Word of God, Speak

Sometimes we go through seasons in life when our prayer or Bible reading/study seems to be less energetic, less intense, maybe even of less interest. Every so often, I think, it is helpful to "be still" before the Lord and just listen to what He has to say to us. Lately, I have found several scripture verses resonating with me. So, my prayer this week is that God's Word would speak to each of us. [all scriptures are from The Message by Eugene Peterson]

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak*


Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (from Eph. 5)


God is strong, and he wants you strong....Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued...Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. (Eph. 6)


So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. (Php. 1)


Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Php. 2)


Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! (Php. 4)


[Fill] your minds and [meditate] on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (Php. 4)


God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. (1 Thes. 1)


Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves. (Php. 4)


Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ. (Eph. 6)


I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say*

So, speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

Amen.



*by Bart Millard & Pete Kipley; (c) 2002 Simpleville Music, Songs from the Indigo Room, Wordspring Music

Old dogs

"Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." (Mark 14 MSG)

God, we want to be alert - be ready for what you are doing - but we know we fail at this. We want to be ready for whatever you send to us, but when it comes we don't always like it. We want to be always aware, but we find ourselves spiritually asleep, distracted, or even running from you. We admit we are sometimes as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. Following you and being the Kingdom to those around us can be hard work and we lose our focus.

Create in us clean hearts; focus our energy, minds, and hearts on things that are on your heart. Renew a right spirit within us that our spirits may be in step with yours. Give us the courage so see your world through the eyes of Christ. Pull us deeper in love with you so we pray constantly, trust thoroughly, and love completely. In the name of Christ. Amen

Then pealed the bells

Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. (Luke 2 - MSG)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

God, this time of year is full of traditions, memories, and special events. Even as we remember and reflect and renew our earthly relationships, help us remember the "old familiar" story of your birth is the center of it all.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Thank you for the men and women who have passed down the Christian faith through the years. Thank you for the martyrs, the persecuted church, those that are ridiculed and scored for their faith - both in the past and in the present. Thank you for the witness of all your people through times and places for the Good News of Jesus Christ. Help us to take this faith and live it out in the here and now and pass it on to future generations.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

God, for the many places in the world that are still under the thumb of the evil one we pray for deliverance. For those bound in slavery, for those oppressed by governments, for those whose existence is tied to evil - we pray for release for the captives, restoration of sight to the spiritually blind, and the reclamation of the Good News in lives and hearts currently crowded by the many faces of evil. We pray for peace to come into these situations and into every life yearning to know your peace.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for being living, wonder-working, and the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank you for showing your power in our world and faithfully keeping your promises. Thank you for your protection, your provision, your revealed holiness.

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!*

Come, Lord Jesus, come. We need you to finish the work you have begun, turning this fallen, dark world back to goodness and life and abundant life. Use us for the work we can do until there is peace on earth and good will to all.

Amen.

(*by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Prayer for a friend

Dear Friend,

Your husband asked me to write a letter of encouragement to you as you attend a special women's retreat at your church this weekend. I think I will pray over you and let the Word of God work within your heart and mine.



"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!
Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat!
Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,
your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

Seek God while he's here to be found,
pray to him while he's close at hand.
Let the wicked abandon their way of life
and the evil their way of thinking.
Let them come back to God, who is merciful,
come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

"So you'll go out in joy,
you'll be led into a whole and complete life. (From Isa. 55 MSG)


Spirit of the Living, Loving God, as my friend enters into this weekend I pray first that she will be at peace with leaving the rest of her world behind for this short period of time. Help her to entrust her family into your care and to fully submit herself to your Spirit and grace.

I pray for her mind this weekend to not be cluttered by the cares of this world, but to be focused on your Voice, your Will, your Way.

I pray for her body this weekend that if she's struggling against any germ or allergy, you would heal her from that and return her to full health. I pray against any contaminates that would come against her and distract her from her focus this weekend.

I pray for her emotions this weekend, that where she needs healing you would be her Balm of Gilead. Where she needs comfort you would be her Comforter and turn her mourning into dancing. Where she needs peace, that you would calm the storm. Where she needs joy, may you fill her so full that her joy is overflowing.

I pray for her spirit this weekend. If there are specific questions she's asking, Lord hear her and answer her. If there are specific things you want to say to her this weekend, give her spiritual ears to know you, hear you, and respond. If there is a time and a way in which she can just relax into your arms of love and crawl up into her Abba Father's lap, Lord meet her there and hold her lovingly. May she go out with joy and be led forward in a whole and complete life.

I pray that your will would be done and your Kingdom come through this weekend. May you be honored and glorified in this time.

Amen.

turmoil

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning..." (Ps. 30:5)

The ministry to moms at our church is preparing for our next meeting. We are talking about parenting during turmoil. Would you join me in praying for those in our world who are in turmoil?

GOD who is IN CONTROL

who is all-knowing
all-powerful
mysterious
personal
paradox
Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider...

We pray for provision, wisdom, guidance, and PEACE to those in our world experiencing whatever kind of turmoil...

For those experiencing economic struggles

job loss

economic crash

greed

hunger

doubt about economic stability

May they have the faith of the widow friend of Elijah and trust God for finances, food, and provision.

For those experiencing worldly trials

terrorism

wars

political unrest

injustice

human slavery

famine

persecution

blizzard, hurricane, tornado, typhoon

May they have the faith of David as he was chased by Saul and call out to you for help. May they have the faith of those in the Exile to hold on and keep the faith even when you seem silent and distant.

For those going through family struggles

divorce

death

illness

moving

addictions & substance abuse

infertility

surprise pregnancies

truly troubled teens

mental illness

May they have the faith of Mary and Martha to call to Jesus for help. May they have the peace of Hannah, Sarai, and Elizabeth to accept God's plans for their lives. May they be like the woman who hemorrhaged 12 years and reach out in faith to touch the hem of your garment and be healed.

For those struggling with spiritual issues

unanswered prayer

attack of evil

temptation

sin & its consequences

unsaved loved ones

May they be like the widow talking to the unjust judge and persevere - keep calling out to God for help - put on the armor of God and run with endurance the race set before them. May they continually be seeking God, trusting more deeply, surrendering more fully, and living more godly.

May we remember the ultimate turmoil of the Cross Jesus suffered for us and remember, again, to praise in the midst of the storm.

Turn our sorrow into joy we pray....in the strong name of Christ. Amen

"Desert Song" by Brooke Frasier

(c) 2008 Hillsongs

Chorus 1

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 1

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

Verse 2

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

Verse 3

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Misc 1

(BRIDGE)
All of my life in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
(REPEAT)

Verse 4

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

If you can, check out this video of the song "Desert Song"; one of the worship leaders gives her testimony and it's powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY