Day 14 Intense Treatment - Holy Spirit's power within us to fight against the enemy of our souls

Spirit of the Living God,

Thank you for connecting your people with each other and for being the Power within our lives.  Thank you for the many saints and witnesses in the faith who have gone before us and taught us how to live the abundant life you call us to.  Thank you for the spiritual leaders of today - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers - who help equip your people to serve in your Kingdom and to build up the Body in knowledge and unity.  Help each of us to be strong in the Lord and in your mighty power.  We know most of the struggles in this life are not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   And we know that the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world, but weapons that have divine power.  They demolish strongholds, arguments, and every pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.  Thank you for the full armor of God that we put on in order to take our stand against the devil's schemes, so that when the day comes we will be able to stand our ground.   Thank you for the belt of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, the shoes of Peace, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God.  Thank you that we can pray in the Spirit on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests.  Thank you that you can take every one of our thoughts captive by your Spirit.  Help us to stay alert and keep on praying for all the Lord's people.  Help us to fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.  And help us to stay connected to you, Holy Spirit, and to Spirit-focused believers around us, so that we can stay strong and fearless. In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

7 You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.  (2 Corinthians 10 NIV)

 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV)

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  (Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

 Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Day 5 - Intense Treatment - Deliverance from law of sin within my Holy Spirit-filled Temple

 Law-Giving God,

Thank you that, even though my body is the lowest part of my being, Holy Spirit has chosen to live within this Temple I received from God.  I am not my own, but was bought at a price and I am called to honor you with my body.  Thank you that I live in the tent of this body and will soon put it aside; my body is yours.  I do not offer any part of myself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but I offer myself to God as one who has been brought from death to life. I ask you to heal and cleanse the portions of my body that aren't working properly. I offer every part of my body/myself to you as an instrument of righteousness.  

Thank you that I am no longer in the realm of the flesh, bearing fruit for death, but I am released from the law so I serve in the new way of the Spirit and bear good fruit for God.  I know I do not want to sin; the law is holy, righteous, and good.  But the sin living within me does what I do not want to do.  In my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.  Deliver me through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  I declare that the pull of my old, sinful nature is eradicated, in Jesus's name. Amen!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV)

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (2 Peter 1:13-14 NIV)

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness...I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. (Romans 6:13,19 NIV)

4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

 (Romans 7:4-26 NIV)

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Some notes from:   NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011

March 3, 2021 Prayer - Pour out your Love and Spirit in a Great Awakening

Loving Messiah,

We kneel humbly in awe before you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  You are perfect in all your ways.  Thank you for the gift of grace you give to us through the Son.  Thank you for the gift of Holy Spirit we receive as we know you as Lord and Savior and seek first your Kingdom.  Thank you for every gift you give us that comes down from the One who is Light and immutable.  We pray for deep and abiding faith so the life of Christ is released within us and we, your People and your Church, will the resting place of Love for this world.  Thank you for your astonishing love; how deeply intimate and far-reaching, enduring and inclusive is that love.  Thank you that, when we ask, you pour into us your extravagant love until we are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God.   We pray that you would unveil the unlimited riches of your glory and favor until we are flooded with your supernatural strength and explosive power.   Cause us to achieve infinitely more than our greatest request, our most unbelievable dream, our wildest imaginations because of your miraculous power within us.  Pour out your Spirit so all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, so that the sick will be healed, the blind see, the lame walk, the captives freed, and your signs and wonders are acknowledged by believer and non-believer alike.  God, pour out a Third Great Awakening in this time and place - awaken the spiritually dead to Life, those living in darkness to great Light, and those who are enslaved to evil and wickedness to New Life lived in the fullness and freedom of your Love and Grace.  We give to you all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. In Christ's name we pray, Amen!

"I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.

Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.

Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!"  (Ephesians 3:14-21 TPT)

" Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17 NIV)

"This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:3-4 NIV)

February 19, 2021 Prayer - Mountain-Moving

Mountain-Moving God,

Thank you for the call to be your children and your heirs.  What great love you have lavished upon us, Father!  You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing, giving us salvation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as our guide.  We praise you for the glorious grace you have freely bestowed upon us and for your Spirit you have placed within us.  Thank you that your call on our lives is simple, yet profound:  to go and make disciples so that more and more people know they are dearly loved by you and have a purpose in your Kingdom.  Thank you that you have given us the physical and spiritual tools we need to fulfill our callings and to persevere against the forces of evil in this world.  Thank you, especially, for your Word and prayer, our indispensable weapons.  We pray together with believers in all times and places for the furthering of your Kingdom.  Specifically, today, we pray for the seven mountains of society - government, media, business, arts & entertainment, education, family and your Church.  We pray that in each one of these there would be godly men and women who are standing up to darkness and pouring your Light, Life, and Love into our society.  Where there are mountains containing deep corruption, wickedness, fraud, and evil, we pray in the name of Jesus for a cleansing of those areas.  We believe that you want righteousness and justice for this nation and so we pray that where there is evil it will be overturned, by the power of your Spirit.  Give us more and more love to light up the darkness so that we can shine brightly and invite others to the warmth and beauty of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."

(Ephesians 1:3-6 NRSV)

"You who live in the shelter of the Most High,

    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

Because you have made the Lord your refuge,

    the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you,

no scourge come near your tent.

Those who love me, I will deliver;

    I will protect those who know my name.

When they call to me, I will answer them;  I will be with them in trouble,

    I will rescue them and honor them. 

With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation." 

(Psalm 91: 1-2, 9, 14-16 NRSV)

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

(Matthew 17:20 NIV)

"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, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 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. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out." 

(Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG)

“This is the message from the Lord to [you]: ‘Your help will not come from your own strength and power. No, your help will come from my Spirit.’ This is what the Lord All-Powerful says. That tall mountain will be like a flat place for [you]. He will build the Temple, and when the most important stone is put in place, the people will shout, ‘Beautiful! Beautiful!’” 

(Zechariah 4:6-7 ESV)

February 17, 2021 Prayer - Ash Wednesday

Forgiving God,

How good it is to praise our God!  You determine the number of the stars and calls each of them by name.  Great are you, Lord, and mighty in power; your understanding has no limit.  Thank you that you build up your children - you gather the exiles, heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds.  Thank you that you sustain the humble but cast the wicked to the ground.  Thank you that on this Ash Wednesday, you call your children to repentance because you want us to be able too enter your presence.  We confess our sins to you; cleanse us from our unrighteousness.  Help us embrace the forgiveness and grace you offer us through Jesus Christ.  Spirit of the Sovereign Lord, pour out on your forgiven and loved children so we are anointed to proclaim your Good News to the poor, captives, and those who grieve and despair.  Help us to show your Light and Love to those who struggle - to bestow on them a crown of beauty and joy, instead of ashes and mourning. May you strengthen us to be oaks of righteousness that display the splendor, majesty and glory of your Name.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

    his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble

    but casts the wicked to the ground." (Psalm 147:1-6 NIV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NIV)

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)

Reassurance of the Mighty Wind

 

Yesterday morning I was walking outside and heard a sound I can only describe as a roaring wind.  However, there was only a light breeze on the ground and in our trees.  We do not live close enough to a large lake or interstate with heavy traffic to have heard this noise in the natural.  But, in my spirit I heard the Spirit of the Lord reassuring me that GOD IS MOVING.  The powerful, encouraging holy roar was a beautiful message to me - to us - that the Spirit of the Lord is still active and present.  I believe it was an encouragement to those of us who are facing despair in the face of many political and societal battles we seem to be losing.  Do not give up hope in GOD when we are weary in the battle.   Do not give up hope in VICTORY when God's Spirit is moving in amazing and powerful ways.  Do not resign yourself to whatever fate seems to be at hand when God may be SO CLOSE to conquering the enemies in this day and age!!  There is a blowing of a violent wind, a clear call, a wind of the Spirit that is moving on this earth!  Do not doubt that God will PREVAIL against the darkness, evil, wickedness, and corruption we see in the natural.   Keep warring in prayer and the Spirit, mighty warriors.  Seek God for his strength, power, and renewal.  Do not doubt that you are living in this time and this place FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.  God IS MOVING and evil will NOT prevail!  Hallelujah!

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:1-2 NIV)

"Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:8)

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.'" (John 3:5-8 NIV)

"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." (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV)

January 25, 2021 Prayer - Light and Lukewarm

Light of the World,

In this day and age we hear the truth of your Word - that darkness covers the earth and thick darkness over the peoples.  We know that your Light and Glory rise brighter than the darkness on the earth. We grieve those who cannot see your goodness - cannot see your Light - whose unbelieving and perishing prevent them from knowing the glory of Christ.  By your Holy Spirit, cause their hearts to be turned toward belief in your Light and Life.  Thank you for shining brightly upon us, your people, and for calling us to be salt and light for this earth. Where we are half-hearted, lukewarm in our faith, and facing the reality of being spit out of your presence, rekindle a strong fire of faith within us.  May we not be spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, but may we seek you for the salve we need for our spiritual eyes and be rescued from this self-induced blindness.  Thank you that Holy Spirit has given us everything we need for a godly life - that we may participate in your divine nature and escape the evil desires and corruption of the world.  Help us to grow in our faith, our goodness, our knowledge of you, our self-control, our perseverance, our godliness, our mutual affection, and our love.  We don't want to be nearsighted or blind, but to remember all your goodness in this land of the living.  Embolden us, enlighten us, empower us, and pour out your grace and mercy upon us we pray in Jesus's name, Amen.  

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60: 1-3 NIV)

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV)

"But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing; among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor. 4:3-4 AMP)

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13 NIV)

"These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." (Rev. 3:14-18 NIV)

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." (2 Peter 1:3-9 NIV)

I've just finished reading "The Message's" version of Luke 24. In part of this chapter, two disciples on the way to Emmaus have a conversation with a (perceived) stranger who explains every prophecy of the Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled them. They didn't realize this stranger was Jesus until they sat down to supper and he broke the bread - and then disappeared! What was their response? "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" (v. 32)

In the last section of this book Jesus explains a few more things to them, gives them their (our) commission, and then ascends to heaven. But not before giving this strange directive: "I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high." (v. 49) We know the disciples are soon "equipped with power from on high" when the Holy Spirit comes upon them at Pentecost.

This leads me to a variety of questions - and prayers ---

When have I/you felt "on fire" as you spent time with Jesus? Has it been lately?

God, give us hunger for your presence, for spending time with you, for being quiet and waiting for you....

What is my/your response when you break the bread and taste the wine of communion?

God, give us renewed vision of what it means to "do this always in remembrance" of you...

Am I/are you in a waiting period? Do we have part of our marching orders from God, but not the final umph to get going? How are we using that waiting period?

God, when we are sitting still in life - whether by choice, by circumstance, or by struggle, help us to trust you in the waiting. Help us to wait for your directions and your empowerment so that our lives are Kingdom work.

Holy Spirit, come and do your work......Amen.

Fit together

Last night I was putting together an antique lawyer's bookcase - the kind where each side, each back, each shelf, each front are all different pieces. As I was trying to get one layer to stay together - and not having much luck - I was thinking about how the bookcase is kind of a metaphor for the Body of Christ. Each piece of the bookcase is critical to the whole thing holding together. Put all the pieces together and you have a beautiful, solid, strong piece of furniture. The Body of Christ is similar - each piece is critical to the whole.

In his treatise on spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 12 Paul includes this:

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body...

Unlike my bookcase, which is held together puzzle-like by fitting pieces and some gravity, the Body is held together by the Spirit. Whew! So the ways in which I can't see how this piece or that piece "fit" are ways in which the Spirit is already putting us together.

These past two weekends I've had experiences of God's love poured out through the people of his Body, the Church. Both Saturdays our family moved our belongings to a new home and we had wonderful help for the physical move, for cleaning, painting, and repairs, and for child care.

Last Sunday at church was Youth Sunday and part of the message was highlighting the mission trip to Honduras. Those that go on the mission trip come back telling of how God connected them to other mission trip participants and to the people they went to serve. Knit together by God's Spirit, the Body does great things.

So, my prayer this week...

God, help us remember you chose each of us to be a part of your Body. Thank you for this gift of salvation and abundant life. Help us appreciate how we fit into that Body and how others do, too. Fit all of us together for fruitful Kingdom work. By your Spirit help us do great things. Amen.

While I'm Waiting

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord*

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5 NIV)

^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Mt. 11 MSG)

^26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Mt. 8 MSG)

This day I am in a period of waiting -- sort of like waiting for the other shoe to drop but with some spiritual implications. My waiting also involves surrendering my hopes, dreams, and will to the God of the universe. His ways and thoughts are higher than mine (Isa. 55:9), he gives good gifts to his children (Luke 11:13), he calls us to give him our worries and to take on his "unforced rhythms of grace."

So we pray....

God of the Universe whose ways are perfect, we say "yes" and "amen" to your plan for our lives. Help us to trust you for all things, knowing that you want good for us. Today my husband and I wait to hear whether the offer on our new house is accepted. Grant us patience and peace. Today we wait for the results of voting for a Senate seat from Massachusetts, a race that has implications for the whole nation. Help us remember this country - these people - this race is all in your plan and that all things work together for good for those that love you. Today our church waits to see if a pastor we have called to ministry will say "yes" to our call. In our individual lives we wait - for an interim time to conclude, for a house to sell, for a call to be clarified, for babies to be born, for questions to be answered, for the infirm to be released into heaven. Help us remember as we wait that you are in the waiting. Empower us by your Spirit to grow in our capacity to wait with you. Help us remain hopeful, to serve you, to worship you, to be at peace. In the strong name of Christ I pray. Amen.

* "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7TSGptd3Y

Interconnected

Lately I am struck by how interconnected our lives are -- not just our lives as a family, community, or church body, but as citizens of the U.S. and the world.  If a factory closes here and a comparable one opens in a different country, families are affected, for bad and for good, in both locations.  If a tariff on imported sugar beets helps the farmers in one country, it hurts the farmers in another.   If a beautiful work of art is created in one place, it has the potential to help beautify many places....  and the examples go on.    

Through Facebook I recently reconnected with some people from high school and grad school I hadn't talked with in years.  In addition to Facebook, email and phone calls, I even connect with friends through those "old-fashioned" face-to-face conversations!  Technology provides us with avenues to keep connected in ways we didn't have 10-15 (or more) years ago.  And yet, in some ways, our local communities have become less interconnected.  I know one set of neighbors pretty well, one lady more than by name, and two other houses by names.  The rest of my block I don't know their names.  If calamity happened in the middle of the night, would we know each other well enough and trust each other to help each other?  Or, to put it another way, would I be interconnected enough with the people around me to know we would "have each others' backs?"   Tis' a strange, paradox of a world we live in.

But, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we know we are interconnected.  Paul talks about the parts of the church being like parts of a body:  that all are important and each need each other.   We suffer together, we rejoice together.  And Jesus prayed for unity among the believers in John 17.  Maybe that's because he knew us - knew that we, even with good intentions, find ourselves pushing for things that may cause disunity within the church.  Maybe because there is always some little whisper of chaos the Enemy is trying to stir up within a church.  Even when we don't want to be (for whatever earthly reason), we are interconnected by a God who wants us connected to Him.

So, we pray....

God of Life and Love,

Remind us of the gift of being connected to you.  Help us live a life connected by your Spirit to the Source of the Abundant Life.  Keep us mindful of those in this world whose lives are affected by our actions, and help us to be the hands and feet for your Word to go forth.  Remind us how to love and to continually seek you so we can remain unified as your children and your church.   Show us your most excellent way and give us one heart and mind with each other and with you.  Guide us by your hand into the paths of peace.

Amen.

^20-23I'm praying not only for them 
   But also for those who will believe in me 
   Because of them and their witness about me. 
   The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— 
   Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, 
   So they might be one heart and mind with us. 
   Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. 
   The same glory you gave me, I gave them, 
   So they'll be as unified and together as we are— 
   I in them and you in me. 
   Then they'll be mature in this oneness, 
   And give the godless world evidence 
   That you've sent me and loved them 
   In the same way you've loved me.

 ^24-26Father, I want those you gave me 
   To be with me, right where I am, 
   So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, 
   Having loved me 
   Long before there ever was a world. 
   Righteous Father, the world has never known you, 
   But I have known you, and these disciples know 
   That you sent me on this mission. 
   I have made your very being known to them— 
   Who you are and what you do— 
   And continue to make it known, 
   So that your love for me 
   Might be in them 
   Exactly as I am in them.  (John 17 MSG)

 ¹⁴Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 
      And now I will show you the most excellent way.  (1 Cor. 12 NIV)

A new year

Yahwah

Abba Father

Jehovah Jireh

Prince of Peace

Wonderful Counselor

Almighty God

Dancing Trinity

Divine Love,

As we enter a new year, help us to have the faith and endurance of Simeon.  May we be righteous and devout, patient in our waiting for things of the Kingdom, and obedient when we are moved by the Spirit.  May we burst into praise, recognizing Your fulfillment of promises.  May we see your salvation offered to all people.  Mostly, Lord God, we pray your Holy Spirit would be upon us as it was Simeon.  

Maranatha, Lord Jesus come....

Amen

 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to dofor him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, 
      you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 
    31which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 
 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles 
      and for glory to your people Israel."  (Luke 2 NIV)