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 5, 2021 Prayer - Beauty-Making

Beauty-Making God,

Thank you, Jesus, for the invitation you have extended to each of us to follow you.  Thank you that we can know you as Lord and Savior and serve in your Kingdom.  Your Love, Kindness, and Faithfulness have caused Holy Spirit to drawn us into relationship with you and we thank you for that gift of Grace.  Thank you that we can accept you as Master and Teacher, the One who disciples us.  God, sometimes (more than we want to admit), we find ourselves with the father of the sick boy, agreeing that "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief."  We are followers of yours - overcome the parts of our flesh that are not following. We trust you - help us to trust you fully.  We have some courage - help us to have more of your courage and holy boldness.  We follow you, with sometimes stumbling steps, knowing that you will make us "fishers of men."  But sometimes the process of "making" is long, difficult, and even painful.  You created us in your image, but the brokenness, pressures, trials, and wickedness of this world can break down the Beauty of who you created us to be.  You have made everything - each one of us - beautiful in our time, so give us the courage to call to you to restore that Beauty.   Give us courage to allow you to work within our hearts, minds, and souls to be renewed.  Make us fully devoted disciples, men and women of full faith, courage, trust, boldness, and beauty, who have eternity set in our hearts.  We ask all of this in Jesus's name, Amen. 

"Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.'” (Matthew 4:19 AMP)

"Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”" (Mark 9:24 NIV)

"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)

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

The New Norm

I the LORD do not change. (Mal. 3:6a NIV)

²⁹"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12 NIV)

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28 NIV)

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (John 21 NIV)

⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NIV)




In the last several months I have done a lot of reading about our current economic/political situation. One very interesting book I read was by a man who was exploring the demographic trends/cycles that led to our current point in history. One comment I see repeated in his writings is "Welcome to the new norm." He says that because of the demographic trends, their resulting economic impact, and the political decisions being made, we can expect about ten years of economic depression. So, therefore, we shouldn't expect our society to go back to the boom years of the 1990's and early 2000's. I've read stories about unemployed people who are still living a lifestyle as if they had that six figure salary -- evidently, they don't realize the New Norm is here to stay.

(By the way, don't let the title scare you; the book is really interesting: "The Great Depression Ahead: How to Prosper in the Crash that Follows the Greatest Boom in History" by Harry S. Dent.)

I think the disciples didn't get the New Norm either. One day they are fishing for a living, collecting taxes, doing normal every-day things. Then in a moment it all changes - a traveling rabbi invites them to "come, follow me" and they leave everything to go with him. They wander around Israel for about three years, listening to his teachings, watching him heal people and cast out demons, witnessing his interactions with the religious leaders at the time. Their time with him seems to culminate as they enter Jerusalem, their Leader on a donkey, surrounded by people praising him. It must have been an amazing moment.

And then, in a few days, it all came crashing down.

Jesus. Dead. Crucified like a criminal. Followers in hiding, fearing for their lives.

Dead.

Dead.

Dead.

Or.....alive???? Could it be?? Are Peter and John and the Marys right??? IS JESUS ALIVE?

A new norm indeed - has anyone ever risen from the dead???

And then Jesus reappears...and he fixes them a meal on the beach...and he shows them his scars...and he recommissions them to go and make disciples...to feed his sheep...to tell others what they have seen and heard.

Another new norm.


Everyday life. Then life with Jesus. Then life without Jesus. Then life empowered by the Holy Spirit to go tell people about Jesus.

Talk about your "norm" having changed!



The new economic norm we live with is that we must live differently than we did even two years ago. The new norm the disciples lived with is that they had witnessed the greatest event in history - God becoming man and living among us - and then were sent to tell people about it.

But some things haven't changed. The disciples call to go and make disciples is also our call. The imperative to go to the ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus Christ is also ours. The commandment to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves remains. God does not change.


We may not have wanted a "new norm;" some of us did very well under the old "norm." But whether we like it or not it IS here. We either adapt or (figuratively) die. Even though few of us want to change or adapt, just for the fun of it, the good news is that GOD is with us. God does not leave us or forsake us. Instead, God calls us to be strong and courageous:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

Even as we travel into this new norm, we can trust in God's promise that he will be with us wherever we go.


God of strength and courage, give us your heart for the lost, give us your wisdom for ministry, give us your viewpoint of our circumstances. And may our lives be a pleasing offering to you. Amen.

Going to the place God will show us

"This world has nothing for me...I will follow you..."  *

God told Abram to pack up his household and go to the place "I will show you." 

Jesus called to the disciples, "Come follow me."  And they left their nets and followed. 

Tonight I talked with friends who are preparing to move out of state because his factory has been closed here and they are hoping to have a job in Virginia.  They have both been a lifelong residents of this area.  Yet, they are prepared to uproot their lives, move away from families and friends, resettle four children (including one in high school and one in middle school), and start over in a brand new place.  But she's told me they have great peace about moving out there.  In fact, both their teenagers are excited (and THAT has to be a work of God, right??!!)  It's like God is saying "pack and go to the place I will show you.  The economy certainly isn't "calling" them to Virginia, like God was calling Abram, but this may be a time when God is calling them to a new field of ministry.  And they are willing to go.

We've probably each been through times in our lives where God has called us to GO but not told us where we are going.  Or we may be discerning now what God's call is or how to follow him.   Our church is searching for a new pastor...what if this isn't a "simple" pastor hire?  What if God's call is more involved to us -- maybe to "pack up" the way we've been doing ministry and "go" to a place God will show us?  I don't know that for sure, but sometimes the simplest invitation - "Come, follow me" - can have the most profound impact on our lives.  

So my prayer for this week...

God of Provision, Wisdom, and Perfect Timing,

Help us seek first your Kingdom

Help us listen to your Wisdom and put it into practice

Help us know the plans you have for our future, a future with hope

Help us trust you when we are walking through the chaos of decision making

Help us to be patient and recognize that your strength will hold us up when we are waiting for direction

Help us be willing to quit what we are doing and then follow you when you call us to a new place

We need you, Jesus, to come to our rescue; where else can we go?

Capture us with grace; we will follow you...

Maranatha, Lord Jesus, come guide our feet into your paths of righteousness

Holy Spirit, come, refresh, revive, restore, comfort, and whisper peace into our storm-tossed souls.

May our words, thoughts, and deeds be pleasing and acceptable to you, our Rock and Redeemer.

Amen.

Genesis 12 (NIV)

The Call of Abram

 ¹ The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

 ² "I will make you into a great nation 
       and I will bless you; 
       I will make your name great, 
       and you will be a blessing.

 ³ I will bless those who bless you, 
       and whoever curses you I will curse; 
       and all peoples on earth 
       will be blessed through you."

 ⁴ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him...

Matthew 4:18-20 (New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples

 ¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

* "Rescue"

You are the source of life

And I can't be left behind

No one else will do

And I will take hold of You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

I put my trust in You

'Cause I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name

By which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

CCLI Song No. 4084763

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Jared Anderson