love - Pray Network Forum - The Reimagine Network2024-03-28T18:32:20Zhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/feed/tag/loveWAGING SPIRITUAL WARhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/waging-spiritual-war2019-05-12T16:45:42.000Z2019-05-12T16:45:42.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I have recently been made more aware of serious problems in our nation, and of spiritual attack in the lives of people that I love. These things are frustrating. And one of the most frustrating factors in my seeing these things is that I cannot see anything I can do to have any appreciable effect. But while I cannot help in the physical realm, I know I can have great effect in the spiritual realm where the real battle will be fought. Paul wrote about this in 2 Corinthians 10. Verse 3 says as much.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-weight:400;">“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I am not exactly sure how to apply this truth. Paul is warning people who have not repented of sins against the church that he is coming with spiritual authority. But how he applies this seems to fit a much larger set of circumstances, including those that I am dealing with right now. Look at the following verses. Verse 4 reads,</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-weight:400;">“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Paul says the weapons of spiritual warfare are not fleshly efforts. They do not come by screaming at people, although God can speak thunderously. On a broader scale, they are not political, although they can affect governments. When Paul says they demolish strongholds, he is talking about the strongholds of demonic forces in the world and in the lives of people, sometimes even believers. This certainly describes things I have seen in the lives of people who cannot seem to let go of attitudes that are destroying them and others. It also applies to some who are being attacked by jealousy, intrigue, and infighting among colleagues. And I can see this in the culture of my own country, and around the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">We see something of how this works in verse 5.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-weight:400;">“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">How do we confound ungodly arguments? Let me point out three crucial factors. The first is love. God's love for people will often overcome opposition. When we speak of spirituality, we have to include all the fruit of the the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. But possibly the most powerful of them is</span> <i><span style="font-weight:400;">agape</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;">, the infinite, ultimate love of God in our lives. Next is spiritual knowledge. This must begin with the gospel by which lives are transformed. Sometimes this means simply speaking the truth even when it is opposed. When he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus just quoted Scripture. He did not convince Satan, but Jesus was not swayed by the temptation.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Finally, and many ways most important is prayer. In Ephesians 6:10-17 Paul gives us what are mostly defensive weapons. But in verse 18 he concludes with the power of prayer.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-weight:400;">“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">We break the power of the enemy by prayer. We extend the Kingdom of God by praying. And we can trust the power of God as we become more and more intimate with Him. You may not see revival as you pray. But you can know God is at work. And you never see revival without extraordinary prayer. You may not avoid evil in this world. Abraham interceded for Sodom. But it was still destroyed. Jesus could have avoided the cross. But I am so thankful that He did not. You will not be able to to keep the Antichrist from rising in the last days. But you will be able to endure all that comes upon the Earth. And you can build a shelter of prayer around those you pray for. And again and again you will turn the hearts of those for whom you pray back to the God of the Bible.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">/</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Website</span></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">YouTube</span></p><p><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7"><span style="font-weight:400;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p></p></div>PTAP: International Day of Prayer for Yemenhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-international-day-of-prayer-for-yemen2018-11-07T17:52:55.000Z2018-11-07T17:52:55.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div><span>He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. - Psalm 113: 7,8<br /></span></div><div style="font-size:16pt;"></div><div style="font-size:16pt;"><span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT578_com_zimbra_date"><font color="#005A95">November 10</font></span>, 2018</span></div><div><div><span> </span></div></div><div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">Dear Praying Friends,</div></div><div><br /><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">November 10 is the International Day of Prayer for Yemen when Christians around the world will be uniting to pray for Yemen. As you know, PTAP has been encouraging much prayer for Yemen due to the immense suffering of the Yemeni people from the horrors of war, resulting in the worst humanitarian disaster in the world <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT579_com_zimbra_date"><font color="#005A95">today</font></span>. So please join us in prayer again, united in the Spirit as one body of Christ, for God to have mercy upon the people and country of Yemen. </div><br /><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">Most of all, pray for the end of the civil war!!! Pray for successful negotiations and a resulting ceasefire. Pray for all fighting and killing to stop. Pray against famine and cholera and all disease. Pray for all humanitarian efforts to be successful. Pray for normal life to return so that the country can start to heal and prosper again. </div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">Below are links to resources to help you pray. Also, we recommend the following:</div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><ol><li>Spend a dedicated time of personal, focused prayer for Yemen.</li><li>Fast if possible.</li><li>Lead your family, small group, church, etc. in a time of corporate, focused prayer.</li><li>Share on social media that November 1o is the International Day of Prayer for Yemen and encourage your friends to pray.</li></ol></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">PTAP's Yemen page</span>: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT580_com_zimbra_url"><a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013twYt2KqmTXdCeav6yXTusVGZiGfCfJR59JAIj2R-Vsb5ibiF6RxRWEYUwgyry8vombM0S8n5XbPRrQGFXvce2pwwfV1kC9yWiMZOqXco30BmvJfffLSUuUKLNcT2S92aP8v79xXK77KkI5vw5A0JV0KVpIsJhMeed2iuOYADa-iv8Hx8t8uVw==&c=7TYlgKHaX1KhaLkq39kE3zeuDKkuXqGsBDutZg-laCj3LCrFVN1g7Q==&ch=-XdPl1aJnlHqjrzm5buiRzlfCokoqbw9LxbkKTgvz1hm1lEORnhfJw==" target="_blank">http://prayforap.com/yemen.html</a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Pray4Yemen</span>: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT581_com_zimbra_url"><a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013twYt2KqmTXdCeav6yXTusVGZiGfCfJR59JAIj2R-Vsb5ibiF6RxRWEYUwgyry8vUcqneLDQQN9_WWjuEtArLvQ-O4qp_jmo8gkQfV5lD1P-d4emLpLzoc96pPN_NgxVVgCSJApB5JmNBBGvzmf42E2-X3D73d5T-5UScuUKQO0=&c=7TYlgKHaX1KhaLkq39kE3zeuDKkuXqGsBDutZg-laCj3LCrFVN1g7Q==&ch=-XdPl1aJnlHqjrzm5buiRzlfCokoqbw9LxbkKTgvz1hm1lEORnhfJw==" target="_blank">pray4yemen.com</a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">BBC News</span>: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT582_com_zimbra_url"><a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013twYt2KqmTXdCeav6yXTusVGZiGfCfJR59JAIj2R-Vsb5ibiF6RxRWEYUwgyry8vJcQnWgdBWEwsrHnEblL4ODvpHkRsxMho7Rp5xTuAqw1Ays6ZShx90hNqzYSXvLbcHw8HyC7A__t11fPQH49n0aiVN9ZZHWpoeHrBzo-vzKOn7xBon0CLs_3TfpQRBwdqz9TgWTt0gxNOskgNW2tM66twASx_2o95EdzRpd4-32lUIy6IQwaolxnneOZzyE3oLUMc9Vwx8T2OThmh4aLpOQ==&c=7TYlgKHaX1KhaLkq39kE3zeuDKkuXqGsBDutZg-laCj3LCrFVN1g7Q==&ch=-XdPl1aJnlHqjrzm5buiRzlfCokoqbw9LxbkKTgvz1hm1lEORnhfJw==" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-45857729/yemen-could-be-worst-famine-in-100-years</a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">PTAP's Facebook</span>: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT583_com_zimbra_url"><a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013twYt2KqmTXdCeav6yXTusVGZiGfCfJR59JAIj2R-Vsb5ibiF6RxRWEYUwgyry8v9QEIG5k5fshg7BroA-Nt4KoMf1z4yfwYN-WebGOVtdXwDznsATfRKFzD9EiwU-lZ3y2GO7nN-lTK7Ktw6cBFyf6YUCe2n0X_f_pOdNnGrF4oVcbEsTURPQ==&c=7TYlgKHaX1KhaLkq39kE3zeuDKkuXqGsBDutZg-laCj3LCrFVN1g7Q==&ch=-XdPl1aJnlHqjrzm5buiRzlfCokoqbw9LxbkKTgvz1hm1lEORnhfJw==" target="_blank"> facebook.com/PRAYTAP</a></span> </div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">PTAP's Prayermate mobile app</span>: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT584_com_zimbra_url"><a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013twYt2KqmTXdCeav6yXTusVGZiGfCfJR59JAIj2R-Vsb5ibiF6RxRSU0FRffeFRYPiitnbG35DgC6sBLnvW1UeWpgPKK2eMt4H1K3R4OFHgKII0Jo3Bcqz-Tm6CIxDdJbOvbPgl-dINSq6--_vrm4tF0kc8JB5yzEeyhah3y5ctDjHR9NoqPk-NMBgY27SJu&c=7TYlgKHaX1KhaLkq39kE3zeuDKkuXqGsBDutZg-laCj3LCrFVN1g7Q==&ch=-XdPl1aJnlHqjrzm5buiRzlfCokoqbw9LxbkKTgvz1hm1lEORnhfJw==" target="_blank">http://praynow4.org/arabianpeninsula</a></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><br /><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">Here is a short testimony from a Yemeni believer and also recent prayer requests from Yemeni believers themselves. Let's pray along with our brothers and sisters. They are greatly encouraged when they know that we are praying with them. </div><br /><div><em><strong>My story</strong></em></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">"I used to live with fear and hatred, and I was tired of living this way. It made me sick. So one day, I fervently prayed to God to free me from this unrighteousness, and God sent me a brother who was actually my neighbor. He spoke to me about Christ. I saw Christ in his life. God gave me freedom like I have never experienced before.</div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;">Now, when I encounter challenges (people of another faith who want to harm me and give me trouble), the only thing I have to give them is love, joy, peace, patience, and reassurance in Christ. No more fear, no more hatred. I have complete freedom. I can now trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because He lives in me."</div></div></div>YOU HAVE A LETTER FROM GOD!https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/you-have-a-letter-from-god2018-11-16T23:57:33.000Z2018-11-16T23:57:33.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I am not sure we fully appreciate the value of communication in these days. We live very near the old American Pony Express route. For a year and a half in the mid nineteenth century, until the telegraph service finally crossed the continent, riders carried the mail on fast horses from station to station from Colorado and points east to California. That was an expensive and often dangerous undertaking all for the sake of mail service.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">We live a little over ten miles from the little town where snowshoe Thompson lived. In the same era as the Pony Express Thompson carried mail on 10 foot skis across the high Sierras from Mormon station to Placerville California.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Of course, most of us in America receive far more mail than we would like. Much of it is what we call junk mail. But letters from important people or people we love are still precious. I love the story of Kathy Keller, Tim Keller's wife, receiving several letters from C.S. Lewis when she wrote him as a 12 year old girl. They were actually written within weeks of Lewis’ death.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">But no letter would be as valuable to any of us as direct communication from God. That is what we have in the 29th chapter of Jeremiah. Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles who had been carried off to Babylon. And in that letter he gives them and us direct communication from God himself. This is not unlike the letters from Jesus to the seven churches in Asia Minor at the beginning of The Revelation.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Many of us are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I recently heard someone say that our putting this verse on t-shirts and greeting cards, and applying it directly to our lives is a misuse of scripture. The person said you could only apply this to your life if you were in fact one of the Israelites exiled to Babylon in the 6th century before Christ. I believe that is a mistake. We have this letter in Scripture because God speaks to us from it. And this letter reveals important things about the character of God, and how he deals in our lives today.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S PLANS</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">First God declares in this passage that He has plans for you. I need to be honest here. I am not very good at making plans. I am always cynical about my ability to know what will happen in the future. But I understand that meaning in life comes from purpose. And God gives us assurance here that He has a plan. God assures the Israelites in exile that they are not simply in the hands of blind fate. And even though it may look to us like God does not know what He is doing, He knows. This brings to my mind His promise in Romans 8:28.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">This verse does not say everything will be good in our lives. That was certainly not true for the children of Israel under judgment. But God was assuring the people that He was going to work even this evil, even this hardship, for good in their lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">The Children of Israel were deported to Babylon because they had rejected God. But God still had plans for them. Someone recently asked me if I believed in the perfect and permissive will of God. He told me he had not done something that he was convinced was the will of God. And he felt he could no longer have God's best for his life.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I said I didn't think that was a good or biblical way of looking at the will of God. I would rather say the will of God is dynamic. He has a specific will for you no matter what happened in your past. A good example of this is found in 1John 1:9.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">So, suppose I sin. That is completely out of the will of God, is it not? Now, what is God's will for me? God's specific will for me is to confess that sin to Him. You have already strayed in significant ways from the will of God. But He still has a specific will for your life. His will may not be easy. But it is perfect for you.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S KNOWLEDGE</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">It was very difficult for the people of Israel to see any good in their captivity in Babylon. And it is sometimes impossible for us to see good in our immediate situation in life. But God is saying to them and to us, “I know.” You and I cannot know what the future holds. But God knows; and we can trust Him.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S GOODNESS</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">In Jeremiah 29:11 the NIV says God has plans to “prosper” us. The ESV says plans for our “welfare.” The Hebrew word here is Shalom. The foundation of the word shalom is peace. But it is used in the Old Testament for a much broader concept than simply the absence of war. It refers back to the time of prosperity particularly under the reign of David and Solomon. Of course God's peace begins with a right relationship with God. God is saying His plans for you begin with your getting right with Him. And Shalom has to refer more to spiritual welfare then it does material prosperity.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">And God says His plans are not to harm you. Now here the Hebrew word for harm is the word for evil. It is the same word that is used in the garden of Eden for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God's purpose in His judgment of the children of Israel was not their final destruction, but repentance.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S LOVE</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">The blessing of God is primarily relational. God's nature and his purpose for us is wound up in His infinite love. God desires a relationship with you. The very next verses in Jeremiah 29 read,</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S HOPE</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">In this letter God and Jeremiah tell the people to settle down where they are and live in Hope. There is a theology that is often being applied in our day which simply says wouldn't it be wonderful if the Lord would come back today and this world would burn. But God is saying, “Don't give up. Keep on serving Me. You have hope.” This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 15:58 which God has often used to encourage my soul.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">GOD'S FUTURE</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I am in an unusual place in life. I have terminal cancer. And I need to say, nothing in my life has helped me get a grip on the future as much as my cancer. I am able to see significance in every moment of my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I see relationships in a new light as my time on this Earth is shortened. That is not to say that I am always kind or patient with people. I am certainly tempted not to be kind. But I hunger to love them with Christ's love. And I pray for God to do things in their lives that I could never accomplish.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Prayer itself has become much more important to me. My cancer brings me to Exodus 33 where Moses cried out to see the glory of God. And I am convinced that God will use my prayers to touch the lives of those around me.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">And I still need to minister. I need to pour myself into God's purpose. I am thankful that He allows, has even called me to write. And I think it is important to see that whatever ministry God calls you to will make life more meaningful.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">All of these things relate to the future. Those of us who believe in Jesus have eternal life. And life beyond this life will be a continuation, even an expansion of the purpose and fellowship that He lavishes on us on Earth. That hope makes everything more meaningful now and forever.</span></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Calvinism?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Website</span></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">YouTube</span></p><p><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7"><span style="font-weight:400;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p></p></div>THE BLESSING OF SHOWING MERCYhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/the-blessing-of-showing-mercy2018-09-24T18:41:44.000Z2018-09-24T18:41:44.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Matthew 5:7</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">This is the first of the Beatitudes that may come close to making sense to modern Westerners. However that is because we really do not understand. This almost sounds like Jesus was saying, “If you are nice to people, they will be nice to you.” There is some truth to that. But it misses the reality of human nature and society. The world is not made up of nice people who will always be nice to you. If you only know those kinds of people your life is indeed sheltered.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I recently heard a testimony of a man who shortly after coming to faith in Christ heard Brother Andrew, God's Smuggler, talking with a prominent Near Eastern Sheikh who was ordering the death of 8 Israelis because 4 Palestinians had been killed. Brother Andrew ask him, “But where does forgiveness come in?” The sheikh answered, “That is only for those who deserve it.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Much closer to home, I heard a woman tell about a man in her child’s Public School who mistreated and lied about her daughter. This was a horrible time for their family. Later she got some perspective on the events because the man was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She said, “I can forgive him because we found out his behavior was affected by the tumor. But I can't forgive other School Employees, and even friends in our church, who believed him when he said those things, even though they had known our daughter all her life.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I understand her hurt, and why she said what she did, but that was not what Jesus taught. Christian Mercy does not end with those who are excusable. Later in this same chapter Jesus tells us we are to be like our Heavenly Father who sends sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. We are even to love our enemies with the love of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">What some of you are already thinking is important to understand. It is not true that your enemy will show you mercy, if you show him compassion. What then did Jesus mean? Like all of the Beatitudes this looks beyond the rewards given by other humans on this Earth. Jesus was pointing to the ultimate mercy of our Heavenly Father.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Toward the end of Mark 11 Jesus gives us one the most powerful promises of praying in faith. And then in verse 25 he extends what he says about faith with these words.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Jesus clearly links trusting God to forgive our own sins with forgiving those who have wronged us.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Matthew 5 concludes with the words, “Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” How in the world are we ever going to obey this command? The only way we could do it is through the gospel. When we receive Jesus Christ, we receive His mercy, His righteousness, and His forgiveness for all who who receive Him. Are you striving and praying to show His mercy toward those around you? We receive His power in our lives to love and forgive as He forgives. But we will not know our final Christ-like perfection until we stand before the Father in His forgiveness and grace.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Website</span></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">YouTube</span></p><p><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7"><span style="font-weight:400;">https://goo.gl/PyzUz7</span></a></p></div>PTAP: Pray for the Anglican Church in the UAEhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-pray-for-the-anglican-church-in-the-uae2018-06-13T12:53:06.000Z2018-06-13T12:53:06.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div style="color:#000000;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi opens doors for Iftar</strong></span></div><div style="color:#000000;"></div><div style="color:#000000;"><div>ABU DHABI: St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi opened its doors to serve Iftar to Muslims in an unprecedented ecumenical gesture during the holy month of Ramadan.</div><br /><div>Muslims and non-Muslims alike gathered for the fast-breaking evening meal at the church in the heart of the UAE capital. Khalid Al Ameri, the Emirati columnist and social commentator, was welcomed to St. Andrews by the Reverend Andrew Thompson.</div></div><div><div>from: <a style="color:#0000FF;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001TEDfP9A0KpyPkZiMMIHoPGOI3KxOHT4W8sTs_DTIyMpl9vBEgrW3aUWLfR17PcdnPt3d1g7mMMKjhWHCajIQKaKQ2KgsJF00pM3iPI3hWSkGbINg4nrULmPieB-iOgZU8kydaFSpnJWIrS5y0oYCCwA5H-DXaKQu5jseydzFa36bYQcHQtrXyWoajGMz123LSOJB_VREzplgiCtD9imD3-kfbCK7Np7yPFuTerM45UI=&c=aH12WZ0QPjfdzVfpvS_cmX_G0J8qCzrEuNbu9E8Gu7F-EIzr_5MeWA==&ch=N_ahmZ1KeR0QATKr3oNWHIYKSP3CtApzFd8KICYrc7hN4Lm6Ewd_8Q==" target="_blank">http://www.arabnews.com/node/1318176/food-health</a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><i>Pray for the Anglican Church and all those who are coming to break fast at this church. Pray that God may soften people's hearts and welcome to love of Jesus into their hearts.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="100%" align="center" class="yiv8505127564DividerPadding" valign="top" style="padding:15px 20px;line-height:1px;min-height:1px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1"><table width="100%" style="min-height:1px;" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="1" align="center" class="yiv8505127564DividerHeight yiv8505127564DividerBGColor" style="line-height:1px;padding-bottom:0px;min-height:1px;background-color:#000000;" bgcolor="#000000" rowspan="1" colspan="1"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div>WHY ME?https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/why-me2018-10-21T20:04:14.000Z2018-10-21T20:04:14.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p>Have you ever asked, “Why me?” when you faced pain or heartache? How can a church or a church leader minister to hurting people who are asking the question, “Why?”</p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Let me propose three crucial facets of ministry to people who might ask this question in the midst of hardship. We must deal with this issue by teaching, love, and encouragement.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Teaching is foundational to ministry in such situations. The question itself can be prompted by bad theology. Many of us living in sheltered and affluent societies have the notion that if you are a Christian, or possibly a good person, God will not allow terrible things to happen in your life. This is a false doctrine. You will not find it anywhere in Scripture. I believe it is legitimate to ask God that you not be led into the temptation that comes in trials. But in John 16:33 Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Your people need to know that God has not promised them the American dream. The purpose of life is not comfort or pleasure.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">However, it is important to note that you need to teach these things before your people come into heartache. The parents of a teenager killed in a car accident don't need your teaching in the crisis. They need God's love through you and through your church. Sometimes the less you say in a tragic situation the more God's love can be poured out through you and your presence with them. It is more important to pray with them than it is to teach them. They need your prayers and the prayers of the whole church family to endure the trial.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Even in trials you can encourage people to pray, to seek God, and to see that He is at work in the situation. And you can encourage them to seek God's glory in the midst of crises. There is an answer to the question, “Why.” It is actually the same answer to the question of why God blesses us. The purpose of heartache and blessing is to glorify His name. One of the ways God will be glorified through trials is by the character that He develops in you. You can encourage people to trust that God is working in their lives. James 2 calls us to rejoice when we fall into many kinds of trials, because we know that tribulation develops patient endurance. James goes on to say we must let endurance produce its perfect work in our lives. In Romans 5 we find the same promise. There Scripture tells us that endurance develops character. And character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint because the love of God is poured out on others through our lives. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 speaks to this.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”</span></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">So, let patience have her perfect work</span></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Of character and hope in and through our lives.</span></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Website</span></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">YouTube</span></p><p><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7"><span style="font-weight:400;">https://goo.gl/PyzUz7</span></a></p><p><strong><br /><br /><br /></strong></p></div>Life Changeshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/life-changes2018-08-27T23:20:23.000Z2018-08-27T23:20:23.000ZPamela Steinhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PamelaStein744<div><p>Life changes and is never stagnant, if you allow yourself to grow. Growing takes effort. Reading His Word and applying His principles to your life. They are good principles, adding value to life. This does not mean you’re going to hop on a fluffy soft cloud and float through life with no heartache or pain. It does mean that you have God to lean on. It means when you seek Him, He will answer. When you follow His principles the hardships in life can be overcome. He cannot always keep you from harm, but He can help you heal from it. He does not control anyone. He is not a control freak. He is here to guide you when you ask but you must listen when He answers. He is your healer, but not always in the way you expect. You only think in the ways of man. You cannot always comprehend what He is doing in your life. This is where trust comes in. If you are following Him, reading His word, praying and soaking in His presence you will have greater understanding and greater healing from life’s hurts.</p><p> </p><p>He is here for His people! The one’s who choose to follow Him. Being a follower of His Son Jesus does not make you weak. Instead it makes you strong. Spiritually strong. Align yourself with the Holy Bible. Align yourself with a Bible believing church that teaches Agape Love above all else. Learn of His ways. Learn to love others and His Son. Learn to love yourself. Many people have done so much wrong, been taught wrongly, or mistreated so badly, even by those who call themselves Godly, that they are confused and refuse to hear His Word. But know that I do not control them and they can choose to misconstrue His Word, or twist it for their own glory or excuses. He is the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD who love’s your soul. Who forgives your sins and longs to guide you to the truth of the Word. He is peace when there is no peace around you. He is Love when there is no one to love you and even when you do have people to love you. He is the Great I AM, here to guide and save His people. You must choose Him as He has already put you on the list of HIS Chosen. He has given you the opportunity and the right to follow Him and seek His peace in your life.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”</p></div>PRAYER AND FORGIVENESShttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/prayer-and-forgiveness2018-05-31T21:16:15.000Z2018-05-31T21:16:15.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I fear that the church in these days, especially in the West, has become shallow in our understanding and practice of forgiveness. We sometimes confuse forgiveness with overlooking sins. And</span> <i><span style="font-weight:400;">agape*</span></i> <span style="font-weight:400;">love in the church family certainly covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) But the depth of forgiveness in the church family must be more than putting up with one another's faults and weaknesses. Nor is forgiveness the same as understanding. I have heard someone say, “Well, I can forgive him because I understand why he did that.” Real forgiveness does not demand understanding. It can come while you still hurt. Such forgiveness is the key to true reconciliation that releases the power of God in our midst.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">In the years that I was pastoring churches I always used the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 as a guide for church discipline when someone had sinned against the whole body. I believe that is justified to some extent. But that is really not the context in which Jesus spoke those words. They begin, “If your brother sins against you.” Because of the importance of this passage I want to present it here in its entirety including verses 18-20. And I encourage you to read it slowly and thoughtfully before I begin to unpack some of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">First, notice the goal of reconciliation. When someone wrongs you, you are not to go to them as the judge pointing out how wrong they are. Your goal is to heal the relationship. From the start you need to have worked through your willingness to forgive, and restore the relationship, possibly deeper than it ever had been before.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">This requires humility produced by the Holy Spirit through time spent agonizing in prayer for the person. And that humility extends to a willingness to sit down with a person before an outside party. When you bring in another party, or failing that, go before the entire church, you have to be open for them to see things you haven't seen in the issue. And you have to be humble enough to submit to their authority over you for the sake of reconciliation. This will require nothing short of the</span> <i><span style="font-weight:400;">agape</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;">* love that God is developing in our lives and in the fellowship of the church.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">And even the judgment of the church, is to be carried out in heartbroken</span> <i><span style="font-weight:400;">agape</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;">*. While treating people as non-believers does not mean we have no more contact with them, it does mean that the whole purpose of the body of Christ is broken. And seems to be very serious. Jesus says rather forcefully here, “Whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven.” He says identical words in John 20 where He breathes on his disciples the Holy Spirit.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">(John 20:22,23)</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Finally we see the depth of agreeing together in prayer that can only come from forgiving from our very hearts. Peter comes to Jesus and asks how many times shall he keep on forgiving someone who has wronged him. Jesus tells the parable of the servant who has received great forgiveness, but won't forgive his fellow servant. And he concludes with verse 35.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">“So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”</span></p><p><i><span style="font-weight:400;">*</span></i><i><span style="font-weight:400;">Agape</span></i> <span style="font-weight:400;">is the ultimate love of God poured out in our lives. The fullest description of agape in 1 Corinthians 13.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/like"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Website</span></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">YouTube</span></p><p><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7"><span style="font-weight:400;">https://goo.gl/PyzUz7</span></a></p></div>Make Love Your Aimhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/make-love-your-aim2018-04-23T16:00:00.000Z2018-04-23T16:00:00.000ZJohn I Snyderhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/JohnISnyder<div><p><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9651032495,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9651032495,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="9651032495?profile=original" /></a></em></p><p><em>If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.</em><br /> -1 Corinthians 13</p><p>Now notice an interesting phenomenon. When you start to read this chapter—one nods in agreement, particularly when there is everything to love. But what if things don't go one's way? What then? If one really gets the point of Paul’s chapter, they probably wouldn’t be agreeing so much.</p><p><em><strong>Love is patient, kind, never jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. It never insists on its own way, is not irritable, pouty, or peevish. Love is never resentful, and on and on.</strong></em></p><p>Think about it: at first the call to love appears simple. But usually by the time we get to the end of the catalogue of what love implies it becomes pretty obvious that whatever we intend and promise to be toward others never really gets very high off the ground. The kind of radical love God requires of us is far beyond us. The way just gets too steep and the air too thin at those high altitudes.</p><p>So what’s the solution to the love problem? How do we get from how we really are to how we ought to be? How do we ever reach the higher levels of what love requires?</p><p>First, we come to recognize in all humility that we can’t really pull it off—we’re just not all that good. It’s not in us to be so loving. We want to be, but we’re not. That’s an enormous realization, and it requires brutal honesty. The person who reads the love chapter and says, “Yep, that’s me alright!” has completely missed the point.</p><p>Second, we come to realize that in our insufficiency is God’s sufficiency. In our weakness, God’s strength is manifest. What we can’t do, God can. So we join with St. Augustine when he said that all the great commands of God are impossible for us to keep in our own strength and pray: “Lord, give what you command.” In other words, “I can’t do it, you can, so empower me to do what you want me to do.” This is the key to the life of faith, the life in the Spirit. Chapters 12 and 14 are about the Holy Spirit and his power to transform all of life. In other words, Paul is telling us, don’t even think about producing a Spirit-empowered life without the Spirit. It can’t be done. But with the Spirit of Christ at the center of everything, anything is possible.</p><p>Finally, the truest and most noticeable mark of the Spirit’s presence in someone is not their spiritual vocabulary, the way they look, or their Sunday behavior, but their love—their daily interactions and caring ways.</p><p>If resentment, anger, or hatred has replaced love and joy in your life, do a heart-check and see if you can determine the root cause of your problem. If someone hurt you, keep a heart of love ready to forgive them the minute they ask for your forgiveness. If you've hurt someone, reach out to them and ask them to forgive you. Not in some fake doing the Christian thing way, but in total, genuine humility, setting aside your pride and rancor. As Christians, we are called to a higher path.</p><p>Make love your aim—today, tomorrow, and always.</p><blockquote><p>And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.</p></blockquote></div>THE PERSON OF THE GOSPELhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/the-person-of-the-gospel2018-01-28T21:37:58.000Z2018-01-28T21:37:58.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Do you know the central teaching of Scripture? It can be found in every book of the Bible and brings it all together. It is the gospel. “For God so loved the world. . .”</span> <span style="font-weight:400;">“That Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”</span> <span style="font-weight:400;">That, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">On the day of Pentecost Peter stood and explained what God was pouring out into the world and in Acts 2:22-24 Peter focused everything on the gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">It is important to understand that Peter did not present the gospel as an abstract concept.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Look at Peter’s words. “Hear these words, ‘</span><i><span style="font-weight:400;">Jesus of Nazareth!</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;">’”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Jesus is the gospel. If you have never come to know Jesus Christ personally, you need to understand that Jesus Himself is reaching out to you in His incomparable love. In John 14:6 Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life. 1 John 5:20 tells us He is eternal life.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">You who are believers need to understand that the gospel is not something you will ever grow beyond. The privilege of knowing Jesus is the wonderful foundation of everything you will ever learn, or need, or enjoy in Christ. Let me point out just one narrow application of this truth. Do you know why the fellowship of the church is so wonderful? It is because Jesus indwells us. You can see Jesus, you can hear His voice and feel His embrace when we get together in the church.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">But there are many applications of the gospel in our lives. If we look at the fruit of the Spirit for example. Galatians 5:22-23 begins the list with love. “We love because He first loved us.”</span> <span style="font-weight:400;">The next is joy. At the birth of Jesus the Angel told the shepherds he brought them “Good news of great joy!”</span> <span style="font-weight:400;">Next comes peace. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">The list continues from patience through self-control. Each of these and every other facet of spiritual growth comes as we understand and apply the gospel to our lives. And the gospel is Jesus Christ. We do not believe in it. We believe in Him.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">This and the next few entries in this blog come from a sermon I preached at Crosspoint Church in Reno, NV. You can find the recording on their website. </span><a href="http://crosspoint.org/index.php/2016-06-01-08-45-06/274-now-to-him-who-is-able-listen-carefully"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://crosspoint.org/index.php/2016-06-01-08-45-06/274-now-to-him-who-is-able-listen-carefully</span></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:400;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">com/</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/">http://daveswatch.com/</a></span></p></div>PTAP: Prayer for Seekershttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-prayer-for-seekers2017-10-11T01:55:36.000Z2017-10-11T01:55:36.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div>Pray for a young man who is asking many questions about Jesus Christ. May he embrace the truth and surrender his life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.</div><p></p><div>Pray for a Muslim national that has been attending a service of expatriate believers for some time. She has asked many questions comparing various religions, so it's not clear yet that she has decided to trust in Christ. However, she continues to have a warm relationship with believers. Please pray and ask God to draw her to Him. </div><div><span> </span></div><div><span>Pray that God will show Himself in supernatural ways and demonstrate His perfect love and kindness to those who live in fear of Him. Pray that those who have had encounters with Jesus through dreams and visions would be insatiably curious and hungry and seek out believers to find out more about Him.<br /></span></div><p></p><div>Ask the Lord to give believers opportunities to share stories from the Word and to open the hearts and minds of hearers to believe and long to hear more.</div></div>PTAP: Ramadan, love, Cholera in Yemenhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-ramadan-love-cholera-in-yemen2017-05-25T16:41:04.000Z2017-05-25T16:41:04.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div>Ramadan begins this coming Saturday (May 27), and many throughout the Arab Peninsula will be fasting, going to special prayers at the mosques, and spending time reading the Qur'an more. Pray that Jesus will visit many in dreams and visions during this special time, and that there may be a hunger for Truth among many in the Arabian Peninsula. Also pray for the Muslim background believers during this time--that they will hold on to their faith with steadfastness and not be ashamed of the Gospel. </div><p></p><div>Pray that believers in the Arabian Peninsula will keep themselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21). Ask that the believers will gladly receive the never ceasing stream of living water, i.e. the love of God, with praise. Pray that the believers will sense the love of God in the workplace, streets, in conversations with local neighbors, in whatever they do... </div><p></p><div>A cholera epidemic has hit the country of Yemen with over 50 deaths in the capital alone according to Reuters news. Garbagemen have been on strike because they are not being paid. The people have been told that vegetables are contaminated. Please pray for those who are grieving the loss of family. Please pray that the epidemic will be contained and eradicated. Please pray for peace in Yemen.</div></div>THE WITNESS OF THE GOSPELhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/the-witness-of-the-gospel2017-04-30T23:57:52.000Z2017-04-30T23:57:52.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of them are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, and to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The gospel is not something that wise men thought about and conceived through eons of time. It is the good news of Jesus. And the witness of the gospel is essential. Hundreds of people saw Him alive, followers, enemies, family, and strangers. To this day people say Jesus has forgiven me. He has embraced me with the gospel of His love and grace. He is alive! I have experienced Him in my life too.</span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5fda18e0-c14c-62c0-7747-03c49fdfdfaf"><span><a href="http://daveswatch.com/">http://daveswatch.com/</a></span></span></p></div>PRAYING THE LOVE OF GODhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/praying-the-love-of-god2017-01-24T15:05:18.000Z2017-01-24T15:05:18.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p>I recently finished the rough draft of a book on AGAPE. I have to admit that writing it has been a thrill. One of the things that God pressed on me is that agape, the love of God, the love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have lavished upon one another from before time, is at the heart of our bond with God. And agape needs to be the driving force of our prayer. Let me point out some natural expressions of the love of God that should shape our prayers.<br /> Prayer for the Needy <br />God cares for the poor. He loves them with a special love. (James 2:5) You can pray in general for ministries to the poor. Thank God for them. And of course real agape and real prayer will give to such ministries. But that is not enough. You can pray for people you may pass every day. You may see them on the side of the road or in the grocery store. You may very well see them in church. And you can pray for opportunities to get the know some of them personally, and find personal ways to pray for each of them.<br />The neediest people you will ever meet are people who are lost without Christ<br />Prayer for the Lost <br />God cares for the lost. Jesus began His teaching in Luke 15 with this parable. Which one of you who has a hundred sheep but loses one of them will not leave the 99 in the open field to go after the one lost sheep? When he finds it, will he not put it on his shoulders with joy? Coming home he will call his friends and neighbors saying, “Celebrate with me because I have found my lost sheep!” Jesus concluded, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”<br />Are you praying daily by name for people who do not know your Lord? I assumed many of us would have to look for needy people. But that is not true about lost people. God has placed you in the midst of family members, neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances who need Christ. He has trusted them to you. Pray for a clear witness to them. Pray for softened heart. Pray for every need they have. Pray for His power in their lives. <br />Prayer of Forgiveness <br />As Jesus hung on the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Who do you think He was praying for? He was certainly praying for the Roman soldiers who were carrying out His crucifixion. I believe He was praying for the multitude shouting, “Crucify!” I believe He was praying for the men who had condemned Him. But He was also praying for me. His whole crucifixion was a powerful prayer for God to forgive me and you. That prayer was a declaration of the will of God from before the foundation of the universe.<br />Are you praying for God to forgive those who have sinned against you? They probably include people whom you love, people who are close to you. They will include people who hate you. They will include people who hurt you deeply, and people who are not at all sorry about it. This kind of praying requires spiritual growth. And it will be a major factor in your growing more and more in the love of Christ.</p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/</a><br /> <a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</a><br /><a href="http://daveswatch.com/index.html">http://daveswatch.com/index.html</a></p></div>GOSPEL WAGEShttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/gospel-wages2017-04-10T18:47:34.000Z2017-04-10T18:47:34.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p dir="ltr"><span>Possibly even more than Romans 3:23, the passage we last dealt with in this blog, Romans 6:23 sounds like anything but good news. That is partly because we have been bombarded all of our lives with the nonsense of self-esteem. You are important! You are wonderful! You are flawless! You are a winner! You can be anything you want to be!</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But as helpful as that thinking may be, it strikes many of us as unreal, a little like the Easter Bunny. We were on the ball team where everyone got a meaningless trophy when we didn't win a game. Or we told a friend she had a beautiful hat, when we were just too shocked to speak the truth.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But in His love God speaks reality to our hearts. Romans 6:23 reads,</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Let me point out two crucial things this verse teaches.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>1. This verse brings us to the Desperate Need of the Gospel.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The world promises wages in its counterfeit currency. The true wages of living our lives as if we didn’t need God are lostness and death without Him.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>So you have cancer. You go to two doctors. One of them smiles, gives you pain pills and a fishing poll. The other doctor says we are going to operate on you to remove the tumor from your body. I have been there. The hard words are the good news?</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>2. This verse also teaches the Wonderful Gift of the Gospel.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The gospel is not something you earn. It is the gift of God's love.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Many years ago I served in a church that was unhappy with me. God gave my wife and I great comfort in Revelation 3:9. He assured us that the people would come to know that He loved us. At first I wanted to say, "No God. I want them to know that I was right." But after His word began to wash over us, we decided we needed His love in our lives more than we needed to be successful or impressive.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Every wonderful thing in life comes from His love and the gift of the gospel. It is eteranlly good news!</span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/"><span>http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span>http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/"><span>http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span>http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p></div>PTAP: God's Presence Preserves the Saintshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-god-s-presence-preserves-the-saints2017-02-01T21:51:05.000Z2017-02-01T21:51:05.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3289"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3288">2 Chronicles 7:3</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3274"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3273">When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!"</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3306"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3307"><span>Psalm 31:20</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3309"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3308">You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3310"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3311"><span>Jude 1:24</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3313"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3312">Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3314"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3316"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485985469663_3315">Pray that God would take His people (Muslim-background believers in the Arabian Peninsula, missionaries, other Christians living in the Arabian Peninsula) deeper in the presence of God. Pray that they all find their souls satisfied in God. Pray that they have a deeper hunger for God. May these ordinary people find themselves growing deeper in Him. May their own prayer life increase with fervent prayer and fasting. Pray that as they grow deeper, Muslims around them will see and yield their lives to Him as well. Lord draw the people living in the Arabian Peninsula to Yourself. </span></div></div>HOW TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIEShttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/how-to-love-your-enemies-12016-10-17T05:17:44.000Z2016-10-17T05:17:44.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p dir="ltr"><span>In a prayer time that I was leading shortly after September 11, 2001 a six-year-old boy spoke up. “We need to pray for the terrorists!” I answered without thinking. “Pray that they will be caught and killed.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>That incident and the real danger of enemies on our door step plunged me into a serious quandary of how to love them. In Luke chapter 6 Jesus gave us a list of specific applications. And while I need to say these directives are personal rather than political, they should affect every area of a Believer's thinking.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Luke 6:27</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>You have to begin by listening. Are you willing to listen to things Jesus says that go against what you consider common sense? Have you considered what good thing God has arranged for you to do for the person who lies about you or opposes something important that you need to accomplish?</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Luke 6:28</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Desiring God's blessing on someone is a foundation of intercessory prayer. I have several lists of people that I pray for every day as a personal spiritual discipline. And from time to time God impresses me to add someone to one of those lists that I just don't like. I have to pray for God to develop His love in my heart for them as I try to ask Him to bless them.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Luke 6:29</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>This may be the most practical and difficult application of loving our enemies. And while the command to turn the other cheek, not to mention the ensuing commands Jesus gives us here, leaves us terribly vulnerable, it meant much more than that to the people who first heard it.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Some years ago I went on a mission trip to what you might call a “kiss culture.” Especially in the churches there, men greeted one another with a kiss on the cheek, often on both cheeks. It did not take us very long to discover that the one receiving the kiss has to turn his cheek. If you did not turn your cheek, you got kissed on the mouth.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>We were never comfortable with this custom, but we quickly came to understand the depth of relationship they were expressing. In such a culture turing the other cheek was an offer of relationship. In the case of an enemy, it was a vulnerable offer of reconciliation.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Let me skip down to</span> <span>Luke 6:35,36</span><span>, a good conclusion to this passage.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Genuinely loving your enemies requires a work of God in your life. We grow in this complicated and humanly impossible discipline as we spend time in His presence. To love like this you must be a child of the Most High. God must plant His spiritual DNA into your heart.</span></p><p dir="ltr"></p><p><span> </span></p></div>In Battle with Black Magichttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/in-battle-with-black-magic2016-01-15T13:58:21.000Z2016-01-15T13:58:21.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;font-size:14pt;"><span>Black magic is a reality on the Arabian Peninsula. Although orthodox Islam forbids magic of any kind, local women still resort to it in order to gain power and influence in societies where they have little power. Those who practice magic seek different things such as getting pregnant, harming a woman whom she is jealous of, and seeking favor for their children. Currently, in one city which is in the heartland of black magic in this Arabian Peninsula country, there is a local woman who has been casting curses on believers. She goes to witchdoctors and has used amulets to cast these curses most likely due to the witchdoctor's advice. In short, she has caused work-related and relational chaos for these believers. Most recently, she has been inviting these believers to several different parties to "celebrate" them. However, they suspect that she is doing something evil to the food and wanting them to eat it. Some of them got sick from her food before and it seems like she is using food as an "innocent" weapon against them.</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align:left;font-size:14pt;"><br /><span>Pray that these believers would stand firm, taking up the shield of faith with which they can extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one (Eph </span><span>6:16</span><span>). Pray that the Son of God would come and destroy the works of the devil in this woman as He promised (1 </span><span>John</span><span> 3:8). Pray for the believers, that no harm would come to them and that they would be a strong witness for Jesus Christ. Pray that God would have mercy on her soul, deliver her from all evil, and give her true faith in Jesus Christ alone. May the truth of Christ set her free! (</span><span>John</span><span> </span><span>8:32</span><span>)</span></div><div style="font-size:14pt;"><br /><strong>Testimony </strong></div><div style="font-size:14pt;"><div><span>This week one of our friends was approached with a request for a Bible. As this book is forbidden in the country but readily available for download, the person was guided on how to get a Bible App. She read </span><span style="font-size:14pt;">large portions of the NT that very night and had all kinds of questions! She was able to discuss in her heart language with a second friend who spoke better Arabic. "Whatsapp" turns out to be a great resource for guiding her through her questions in the context of relationship. Please </span><span style="font-size:14pt;">stand with us in prayer that this woman will recognize the authority of the Bible and respond to His call of love to follow Him even if this would mean being persecuted.</span></div></div></div>PRAYING FAITHhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/praying-faith2015-12-15T18:10:37.000Z2015-12-15T18:10:37.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p dir="ltr"><span>But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, I you of little faith? </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Matthew 6:30</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Prayer is the first expression of faith. If you believe in God, you will pray. Praying faith is propositional. We trust what Scripture tells us about God. By faith we risk ourselves in the confidence that God is able to meet our needs. </span><span>We believe that the One who made us knows what we need before we ask Him.</span> <span>We believe that He who feeds the sparrows and clothes the lily will provide what we need.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But praying faith is also personal. We not only believe that Almighty God can meet our needs, we trust in His love for us. We do not just trust God to give us what we want. We can know that God loves us even when He withholds what we want or think we need. By faith we throw ourselves into God's embrace. I remember being terrified up on a roof as a child. I yelled and screamed. My father came and stretched his arms up to me. "Jump, David." Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I jumped into my father's arms. </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Praying faith is exclusive. We often hear faith touted as if it were a good in itself. But I would not have survived if I put my faith in the sidewalk to catch me. In prayer we decide to put faith in God rather than in our doubts or fears, rather than our wants and thoughts, rather than the goals and promises of the world around us.</span></p><p><span> </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>I need to write on faith again next week. I want to key on the words, "their faith" in Matthew 9:2.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/"><span>http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ccd4b4eb-a6cf-1440-8ed0-1c828ff326ce"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ccd4b4eb-a6d5-19cf-e62c-eb5ecb15b605"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/"><span>http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></p></div>Prayer Changes Thingshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/prayer-changes-things-12015-08-14T21:23:26.000Z2015-08-14T21:23:26.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><div style="color:#800000;font-size:14pt;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span style="color:#050000;font-size:10pt;">Pray for the country of Y as unrest continues. Now that the port of A is open, pray that ships bringing food will come and that those who need the food will receive it. Pray for all the logistics necessary to make this happen. Pray for peace in Y. Pray for a number of believers who are in great need now - without jobs and means to provide well for their families. Pray that some of this food will go to them and that they too would provide for those in need (Luke 10:25-37).</span></div><div style="color:#800000;font-size:14pt;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span>In the same country, pray for a young man who is searching for Truth due to trauma in his childhood. Thank God that he now has access to the Scriptures. Ask that the Holy Spirit will help him understand them. Pray that he and his whole family will believe. In addition, pray for a believer who was put in prison last week for trying to help meet the material needs of other believers. Pray for his release, spiritual encouragement, peace and joy (Matthew 5:10, 11), and boldness to speak God's word (Acts 4:29).<br /></span></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span>In another country, there had been a budding church of nationals coming together. However, a jailing of one of the new believers, then a court case between two of them, etc. caused the group to crumble. Pray for the long-time tentmakers and these believers, that they will all have renewed faith, love, hope, guidance, encouragement from the word (Romans 15:4), and wisdom from the past, to see God's chosen church established together in the faith in unity (Psalm 133, Romans 15:5-7).<br /></span></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span>Pray for the young men in another country who live in a small, conservative town. Some of them are hostile to the truth but they are still willing to discuss the issues. They are hungry for spiritual substance in contrast to their peers who only care about material comfort. Pray that God would grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth that they may escape from the snare of the devil who has captured them to do his will (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).</span></div></div>PTAP: Qatar Ramadanhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-qatar-ramadan2015-07-02T16:13:08.000Z2015-07-02T16:13:08.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><p>Qatar, Arabian Peninsula</p><p>Day 14 - July 1, 2015</p><p>As Muslims are praying and fasting during Ramadan, we pray for them.</p><p> </p><p>A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.</p><p> </p><p>I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.</p><p> </p><p>Christians in the Arabian Peninsula are asking us to pray John 13:34-35 & John 17:22-23 over Qatar.</p><p> </p><p>Qatar is a relatively politically stable country. But what we do see is a struggle to maintain its cultural and especially its religious values amidst ongoing and aggressive modernization and development. Pray that the government's response, which can often be influenced heavily by Islamic fundamentalists, will be driven by the desire to embrace that which is honoring to God-respecting and protecting the rights of especially the majority expat workers through the observation of international labor laws and basic human rights.</p><p> </p><p>We praise God that Qatar has granted property for the building of churches and places of worship. But the reality is that there is simply not enough space on the compounds to accommodate the large number of Christ followers. Pray that the government will grant permission for groups to meet outside of the compounds in places like restaurants, hotels, etc. Please pray for the various fellowships, that God would bring increasing unity among them. Pray that God would use the existing fellowships to meet the growing needs of the very poor migrant communities, especially in the labor camps, and that they would be bold to proclaim the Gospel to these people.</p><p> </p><p>An ongoing struggle continues to be unity and community among the Christian workers in Qatar. Several years ago, the government cracked down on Christian workers, resulting in a few getting deported and causing the community to fragment and become fearful. Most recently, one of our workers was temporarily detained. Since then, this particular couple has been under very obvious scrutiny resulting in many of the other workers cutting off ties with them. As you can understand, they are feeling very lonely and discouraged. Pray for God to break the spirit of fear and that He may rebuild the trust and unity of the workers so that they can begin to work in concerted effort again. Pray that the workers would even be willing to come together to pray and fellowship together. Pray that God would grant the different fellowships a united heart to impact Qatar with the Gospel. Source: Christian leader in the Arabian Peninsula</p><p> </p><p>Qatar makes the news because of World Cup Football, their airlines, and their financial support of Daesh (ISIS), al-Qaeda and other violent Islamic groups. After the killing of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya, Egypt criticized Qatar for their funding of such an organization. Pray that Qatar will stop any and all funding of radical Islamic groups. Pray that the grip that this form of Islamic terrorism has on them will be removed and be replaced with freedom in Christ. Pray for the very few Qatari believers in Jesus to grow in their faith and their love of God (The Bible, Ephesians 3:14-21). Source: The 10/40 Window Prayer Points for Every Nation (April 2015)</p></div>STRETCHING MY LOVE IN PRAYERhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/stretching-my-love-in-prayer2015-09-01T18:15:55.000Z2015-09-01T18:15:55.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p>I took a break from my blog during the month of August, 2015. And I told you I would see you in September. Well, it is September. And I am back as I said I would be. I pray for God to speak to each of you in these entries.</p><p></p><p dir="ltr"><span>I am so blessed to have people whom I love and love me on daily prayer lists. I am not sure anything cultivates my love for them like prayer. I also have the names of people on prayer lists who are hard to love or even like. Exercising kindness toward them is necessary for feeling and growing my love for these people. But these actions must begin with and be carried out in prayer.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>FORGIVENESS AND PRAYER</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>I have people on prayer lists who have wronged me, or worse, harmed people I love. God clearly impressed me to put these people on prayer lists. But I do often find it difficult to pray for them. Praying in general helps me understand and apply the truth of God's grace to them. God's forgiving love begins to rub off on me. Especially as I put forgiveness into words by asking God, even against my will, to forgive them.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>PATIENCE AND PRAYER</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Interestingly enough I often need more patience with people who are closer to me than those I have trouble loving. They are sinners. And I am a sinner. We sin against each other. I thank God that prayer brings me into contact with God's patience with me. Despite what the devil accuses I can go to God in confession immediately after sinning. I am still His child even after I sin. Praying in that grace opens my heart to patience with others even when we rub each other the wrong way.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>HUMILITY AND PRAYER</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>I am not sure anything is as necessary to love as humility. And nothing cultivates humility like access to God by grace in prayer. I do not deserve the privilege of prayer. The Son of God had to die on a cross to purchase it for me. I did not just need a little more righteousness to see the kingdom of God. I had to be born again. And I am no more deserving of God's grace than that person I find it difficult to love.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Today I plan to pray specifically for God to show His great love to everyone one my prayer lists and people I come in contact with all day.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Next week I plan to begin a series of blog entries on the Foundations of Prayer</span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f6a74362-8a18-491f-4c16-ef56b16fe2c8"><br /><br /></span></p><p>watchinginprayer.blogspot.com</p></div>PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIEShttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/praying-for-our-enemies2015-04-16T21:10:38.000Z2015-04-16T21:10:38.000ZDavid Younghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/DavidYoung<div><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>How are you loving your enemies? It should not surprise us that Jesus Himself applied this impossible command with a prescription for prayer.</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p align="center">But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.<a title="">[i]</a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>I recently read something on the web from a man who works as a Christian apologist that severely attacked Bill Nye (the science guy). I wrote a comment about loving and praying for Bill Nye. The man wrote back somewhat offended thinking I was saying he should abandon his ministry. I admit that that I may not have been as kind or loving as I should have been to the apologist with my public comment. But it is crucial for believers to base our polemics in the love of Christ.</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>This requires prayer because it is impossible in human strength. I need to regularly pray for God's power to love my enemies. I need to ask God to help me love members of ISIS and radical Islam. And this needs to be specific. I need God to help me pray by name for my Muslim Medical Doctor and the News anchor who will twist the News to get people to support same sex marriage. And yes, the television personality who would lead my grandchildren into sin and unbelief.</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>And I don't know about you, but I have trouble figuring out how to do and even think about this. I need God to show me how to love, my family and friends. How much more do need Him to show me how to love my enemies?</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>I just saw a great interview on this on <a href="http://www.radical.net/blog/">http://www.radical.net/blog/</a> . I want to recommend this blog to all serious Christians. And certainly more pressing to the point of this subject I want to recommend this particular video whose link I found on it. <a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/">http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/</a> This video and others on this site are particularly on loving my homosexual neighbors, but they establish the principle of prayerfully loving real people.</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p>I discipline myself to pray for many people that stretch my prayer life. I have wondered if I should make a special prayer list for my enemies and for enemies of Christianity in general. At this point I have decided not to pray for them in a specific list. First, I have enough trouble praying for them when they are mixed with people who are not as difficult to pray for. And I need to see prayer needs as a mixture of growth and joy. And the greatest of these elements often flow out of the love for the same people. Father put Your love in me for enemies all around us.</p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/</a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p><a href="http://daveswatch.com/">http://daveswatch.com/</a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p><a href="http://www.radical.net/blog/">http://www.radical.net/blog/</a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/">http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/</a></p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"></a></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div><p><a title="">[i]</a> Matthew 5:44,45</p></div></div><p><a href="http://www.rosariabutterfield.com/"> </a></p></div>THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/thirty-one-days-of-prayer-and-the-word-january-1-31-2015-theme-122015-01-24T14:52:54.000Z2015-01-24T14:52:54.000ZBernie Lutchmanhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/BernieLutchman<div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="text-align:center;"><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://bernielutchman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR DAYS 1-23</a><br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><b style="font-size:14pt;">DAY TWENTY FOUR:</b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2298644546171100467"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><b><i><u>VERSES:</u></i></b></span><br /><div><span style="color:#800000;"><span class="highl">"</span></span><span><span style="color:#800000;">For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.</span><span><span style="color:#800000;">"</span><b>....2 Timothy 1:7</b></span></span></div><span><span class="highl"><span><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></span><span class="highl" style="color:#0000ff;"><b><i><u>PRAYER:</u></i></b></span></span><span style="color:#0000ff;"><b><i><u>(Against Anxiety, Day 6)</u></i></b></span><br /><div class="separator"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXBENAZpmlc/VMOkik2LUSI/AAAAAAAAJEs/E1pzh-bQhi8/s1600/FAITHFEAR1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXBENAZpmlc/VMOkik2LUSI/AAAAAAAAJEs/E1pzh-bQhi8/s1600/FAITHFEAR1.jpg?width=320" width="320" class="align-left" alt="FAITHFEAR1.jpg?width=320" /></a></div><div><span><span><b>Father God we are so grateful that You have removed all obstacles that stand in the way of our reconciling with You, to remove the guilt and stand from the Fall of Adam, in the Garden. We are so grateful that through the Precious Shed Blood of the Ancient of Days, the ONLY perfect and acceptable Sacrifice for sin, that we are able to even stand in Your Holy Presence and not be cast aside into outer darkness, where doth lieth weeping and gnashing of teeth. All You ask in return for this Mighty Grace and Favor is our obedience to You, oh Most High, and surrender to All Your have in store for us. And Lord what You have and plan for those who love You, is so much better if the rest of us would just stop, listen and learn!<br /><br />Who is like You, and who can out-give, out-love, out-grace You, oh Sovereign One? No one! You take away our fear and anxious moments by the strong whisper of Your Voice, as You direct us back to Your Written Word where You said "fear not" so many times, it is the most powerful exhortation in the Scripture! In our troubles and weakness, we overlook these things and subjugate our faith into second place, choosing to be like the lost of humanity and operate in the paradigm of fear. While, oh God, this may a natural human reaction, You did not call us or expect Your elect to do this sort of thing, but to trust and believe.</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>For that reason, You emphasized again that You did NOT give us a spirit, bent, inclination, heart and the ability to focus just so we would cower in spiritual and natural fear, when You - the Lord of Heaven's Armies Who can destroy every evil thing with one Word, one Command, is for us! We know this, we know You have us covered by the Blood and by the Angels, so help us to have the triple portion of Faith necessary to operate in this way every single moment of every day of every week and forever more, until You call us home.</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>You called us 'sons of God' and gave us Power <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/1-12.htm">(John 1:12)</a> and thus, we already are embedded with Your dynamic, fluid Kingdom authority to beat back the enemy with the same word - Prayer! We must take authority over our situation, in Jesus' Name and then that authority will be thus be our connection to the Source, so You can then execute the result You desired in any particular situation. And we do this in Love oh God, the same love, agape, unconditional and forgiving love You showed us as we wallowed in our sin before Christ rescued us. None of this is possible - operating out of AND under the Authority of Christ in love, power and boldness if we are not under control, in sound mind and full conscious, aware, obedient and knowledgeable to the Who You are and what You are accomplishing in our lives. Father God, give us the soundness and clarity of mind, that we, Your people, keep our collective heads on in cool calmness, being vigilant and alert so that when everything starts falling down around us, we can be under the unction of the Holy Spirit, in full control to lead others to You Way - the Perfect Way. We ask this through the Mighty Undefeated Name of our Lord and Commander of the Universe - Jesus, our Soon Coming King. AMEN</b></span></span></div></div></div>THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/thirty-one-days-of-prayer-and-the-word-january-1-31-2015-theme-132015-01-29T12:10:18.000Z2015-01-29T12:10:18.000ZBernie Lutchmanhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/BernieLutchman<div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://bernielutchman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">DAYS 1-28 FOUND HERE</a></h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"><b style="color:#993300;font-size:14pt;">DAY TWENTY NINE:</b></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3778930658766940648"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7746761631513048180"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8151515902309763978"><div><span style="color:#993300;"><b><i><u>VERSES:</u></i></b></span></div><div><span><span><b><span><span><span class="highl">"</span></span></span></b></span><b><span><span> Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren"</span></span><span>.</span><span>...Deuteronomy 4:9</span></b></span></div><div><span><span><span class="highl" style="color:#993300;"><b><i><u>PRAYER</u></i></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3FgPmzpkrY/VMofgGy3IEI/AAAAAAAAJHQ/S37EcZ32k5w/s1600/Father%2Breading%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bchildren.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3FgPmzpkrY/VMofgGy3IEI/AAAAAAAAJHQ/S37EcZ32k5w/s1600/Father%2Breading%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bchildren.jpg" class="align-left" alt="Father%2Breading%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bchildren.jpg" /></a></div><div><span><span><b>Oh most merciful and loving God in Heaven, we worship You in spirit and in truth and in gratitude for Who You are and What You have done. We have seen Your Hands, the Work of Your Hands, the Wonder of Your Love and the Grace from Your Heart, as the winter of our discontent, the wickedness of our hearts and the wandering lost nature of our souls were rescued from sin, death and hell. You did that, oh Lord. We are living proof, I am living proof, of the unseen Hand of God, Whose Arm is never too short, to reach into the depths of depravity and despair and pull us out by the root to replant us in the Garden of Grace.</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>We know, in every fiber of our very being, what You have done in protecting us from danger, keeping us from falling and from the wolves and sure death out there as the angels You sent, kept us from "dashing our foot up against a stone". Father, I remember those days. I remember the fields of dirt, thirst and hopelessness You took me out of....just like You took the little shepherd boy away from the flocks who slew great giants and became king David of Israel. As Your Faithful servant, meek yet strong, Moses urged all believers for all times, I purpose to "<span>take heed</span>" and wear Your salvation of my soul on my sleeve that others may gain. I take </b></span></span><b>particular, punctilious, painstaking, rigorous, care in, as Your Apostle Paul says "<span>working out</span>" that salvation....not to be "saved again" but to build on what You have given me, in Grace through Faith, to a daily maturing in that Faith....in the spirit of boldness, power, love and a sound mind!</b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><span><span><b>It is only by staying, abiding and walking close to You, Abba Father, that I can be, that we can be, of any use to the Kingdom of Your Great Son, King Jesus the Lord of Heaven's Armies and the real Commander in Chief of the world! It is only by constant prayer, intercession, and letting the Word of God, the Bible richly dwelling in us day after day, month after month, year after year, that Your servants can be effective in leaving a legacy of Lordship not just to our children from their birth to their maturity, but from their teenage years until they themselves become parents and then, if we are blessed with clarity of mind and good old age, we too can share what God, through Christ has done for us. Lord, give us this day, not just our daily bread, but the daily power, strength, boldness, discernment and wisdom to execute every statute You laid out in this Scripture from this verse above, so that we will be able to do just as You commanded, to not just leave but LIVE a legacy of love, and the Knowledge of the Goodness and Wonderful Works of our Lord, to those whom we will one day temporarily leave behind. We ask this in the Precious Name above all names - Jesus, our Lord, amen.</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>Holy Bible, Book Divine</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>Precious Treasure, Thou art mine!!!</b></span></span></div><div><span><span><b>Amen</b></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/thirty-one-days-of-prayer-and-the-word-january-1-31-2015-theme-32015-01-12T12:30:00.000Z2015-01-12T12:30:00.000ZBernie Lutchmanhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/BernieLutchman<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://bernielutchman.blogspot.com/2015/01/day-twelve-verse-as-for-you-anointing.html" target="_blank">DAYS 1-11 ARE HER</a>E</p><div><span style="color:#0000ff;" class="font-size-4"><b>DAY TWELVE:</b></span></div><div><span style="color:#0000ff;" class="font-size-4"><b><i><u>VERSE:</u></i></b></span></div><div><span><span><b><span>As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him....</span><span>(1 John 2:27)</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="font-size-4" style="color:#0000ff;"><b><i><u>PRAYER:</u></i></b></span></div><div class="separator"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9GdzIcZp3s/VLO-6NPsntI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/dHJQm5AvoxE/s1600/missions1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9GdzIcZp3s/VLO-6NPsntI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/dHJQm5AvoxE/s1600/missions1.png?width=320" width="320" class="align-center" alt="missions1.png?width=320" /></a></div><div><span><i><b>Most gracious, kind merciful Heavenly Father, Who gives all things to all all people, we thank You for the special</b>"</i>chrisma<i>"</i> (gift of anointing) <strong><i>You have given Your anointed and those upon whom You have placed a special calling to reach, teach, preach and outreach to a lost and dying world. These are those who are truly called by Your Name, those who have been reborn and brought into the Kingdom of Your Son.</i></strong></span><strong><i> </i></strong></div><div><strong><i>Because You have given us Your Spirit, we cannot be deceived by the god of this world and even if distracted, we shall soon learn the errors of our ways. There are some things which bible colleges, Sunday School teachers and preachers cannot teach and that is how to listen to You, how to respond to You and how to obey the promptings and directions which Your Holy Spirit, Who is our true friend in the Faith imparts and inputes into us. He infuses more oil and blessing daily from our first calling on our lives and the Truth can only be found in Him.</i></strong></div><div><strong><i> </i></strong></div><div><span><b><i><strong>So most compassionate, gracious and long-suffering God, we lift up on this special day of recognition of Your anointing on the lives of your true followers, those who take this Word across the globe. We lift up Your missionaries who abide and rest more on You for their moment by moment nourishment, guidance, protection and direction than the rest of us. Lord, not only are Your true missionaries, i.e., those whom You have actually sent out to dangerous and seemingly unproductive lands, not only are they solely dependent on You, but sometimes they lose courage in the face of evil persecution as seen with Your servants the Burnhams when Martin was killed by islamic guerrillas in the Philippines in 2002. Lord as the flesh told Gracia, his dear wife to see revenge, Your Grace and Your Love encouraged her to show love, mercy and compassion. Because of that, she "learned to fly again" and won many more souls to Christ, a testimony for us not to give up and even in the pain and suffering in her own family, to see the big</strong>ger picture of the Love You have, which put Christ on the Cross.</i></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><br /> Father, we also pray for those of us who are missionaries in our own "Jerusalem"- namely outside our own front doors. May we never tire of the hard work that it is to reach on and teach and care for the lost when their hearts are so hard and they literally hate You, while professing to love and know You at Christmas and Easter time. Father, we pray for those of us that we persevere, never give in, never give up and in fact live up to the standards and the call with which You have have called. We do this because Your Call is True, Your Word is True, Your Love is True and Your Promises are Yes and Amen....and we believe it, because of Jesus Christ, our soon coming Lord and Savior, in His Name, amen.</i></b></span></div></div>PTAP: ISIS is impacting the Regionhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/ptap-isis-is-impacting-the-region2015-03-11T15:40:14.000Z2015-03-11T15:40:14.000ZMerton J. Hershbergerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/MertonJHershberger<div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">PTAP would ask that we would pray for those suffering under the hand of ISIS </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">and also pray for ISIS to be convicted of sin. Our continued battle is not </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">with flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces that cause people to </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">act with such evil. Attached is a 30 day prayer guide you can download and </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">pray through this situation. ISIS is effecting Syria and Iraq, but also the </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">whole world. So please pray and seek His face during these times.</span></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><a href="https://files.ctctcdn.com/198b864e001/6acfa5e8-226c-4d65-ba54-a52a6a52a689.pdf">https://files.ctctcdn.com/198b864e001/6acfa5e8-226c-4d65-ba54-a52a6a52a689.pdf</a></span></p></div>WHY PRAY? Part 2 - We Trust!https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/why-pray-part-2-we-trust2015-02-07T17:30:00.000Z2015-02-07T17:30:00.000ZBernie Lutchmanhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/BernieLutchman<div><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="font-size-5"><a href="http://bernielutchman.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-pray-part-1-we-must.html" target="_blank">CLICK TO READ PART 1 HERE</a></span></p><p><span><b><span><span class="text Jas-5-14" id="en-NASB-30369">Is anyone among you sick? <i>Then</i> he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;</span><span class="text Jas-5-15" id="en-NASB-30370"><span class="versenum"> </span>and the prayer</span></span></b><span class="text Jas-5-15"><b><span><span> </span><span>offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will </span></span></b><span><b><span>raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him</span></b><b>(James 5:14-15)</b></span></span></span><br /> <span><br /></span></p><div class="separator"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aHnxVHC7N8o/VNYAuPs7L-I/AAAAAAAAJJg/7QBBn-vu0vg/s1600/g050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aHnxVHC7N8o/VNYAuPs7L-I/AAAAAAAAJJg/7QBBn-vu0vg/s1600/g050.jpg?width=320" width="320" class="align-left" alt="g050.jpg?width=320" /></a></div><p><span>The Lord promised that <b><span>"in this world you will have tribulation (or trouble), but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" </span>(John 16:33b)</b>. How does someone do that when the enemies of God are systematically destroying His people....when many are losing hope....when the numbers of "nones" (those who believe in nothing) grow exponentially....etc. etc..</span><br /> <span><br /></span> <span>These are the Biblical end times which are in view, primarily, to those who are saved and called by Christ into the Kingdom. We are seeing a plethora of incurable diseases, deadly viruses and inexplicable things all around us. Cancer is on the rise due to the many different things - lifestyle, quality of food and environment etc. In fact, if you act even the dearest Christian, there seems to be a sense of resignation and defeat.</span><br /> <span><br /></span> <span>This is both understandable and wrong at the same time. We see an exhortation from James here which is hardly called upon, in times of need, even by those who call themselves strong believers.....and that includes pastors. On average, you hear pastoral prayers about "Lord heal so and so, touch brother X, remember sister Y....etc.." But is there the strong biblical prayer system for healing, whether Body, Soul or Mind, which lines up with James 5:14, 15? Not really! This sort of healing and restoration requires Faith and Trust in the Promise AND persistence in prayer.</span><br /> <span><br /></span> <span>Too many modern seminaries, and thus, the pastors they put out, have removed the spirit of this Scripture which says that such faith for healing, anointing with oil and restoration "is only for Bible times" and not now! I have heard that so many times, I don't even listen to it anymore. Because the Living Word who abides in the Christian testifies that the entire Word of God - all 66 books - are for now and for you and I. Therefore, even if the elders don't pray for the church and the sick as they should - YOU DO IT!</span><br /> <span><br /></span> <span>To drive home that point, the Lord gave us the account of the man of God - Elijah - who was sent to a place of famine and a poor woman in Zarephath. </span><br /> <span><b>Read the full account here from the flowing narrative of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+17%3A7-16&version=GW">God's Word Translation:</a> </b></span><b> 8 Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath (which belongs to Sidon), and stay there. I’ve commanded a widow there to feed you.”</b></p><p><span><b><span>10 He got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town’s entrance, a widow was gathering wood. He called to her,<span> “Please bring me a drink of water.”</span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="font-size-5"><a href="http://bernielutchman.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-pray-part-2-we-trust.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO READ THE READ OF THIS MESSAGE</a></span></p></div>The God with a Hearthttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/the-god-with-a-heart2014-08-21T21:54:55.000Z2014-08-21T21:54:55.000ZJohnny Russell Almondhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/JohnnyRussellAlmond<div><p> <b>“He who, from zone to zone, / Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, / In the long way that I must tread alone, / Will lead my steps aright.”</b></p><p><b> (William Cullen Bryant, “To a Waterfowl”, 1818)</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p> Miserable in your circumstances? Feeling nobody understands your heartache or even gives you a passing thought? Skeptics scoffing at your faith stance?</p><p> </p><p> A baby boy’s whimpers awakened sympathy in the heart of an Egyptian princess, so you can be sure your helpless cries touch the loving heart of God. He tracks every one of your woes and bottles all your tears.</p><p> </p><p> The Wonderful Counselor is ready to hear your dilemmas. The Mighty God is able to handle your desperate situation. The Everlasting Father is unfailing in compassion. The Prince of Peace sets your heart at rest in the eye of life’s storms.</p><p> </p><p> The God who moved with Abraham until he found the Promised Land, who laughed with Isaac until he learned to trust, and who wrestled with Jacob until he won a blessing will not break His sacred promise to care for you.</p><p> </p><p> Epicurus said “if there are gods, they do not care for you.” False gods of the heart are incapable of caring, but the God who is love cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).</p><p> </p><p> Aristotle said “it would be eccentric to claim that Zeus loved a human being.” He was right about Zeus, but the God with a heart loves all of us (Psalm 136).</p><p> </p><p> So do not wring your hands in worry—fold them in prayer. Trust God to sustain you in sad and dark times, and keep looking for exit signs from burdensome situations. Dramatic rescue will happen at just the right moment. Heaven’s clock is invisible, but it keeps perfect time. Exodus is certain as sunrise.</p><p> </p><p> <b>“The Israelites groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God. God heard their cries and remembered his covenant promise. He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare.” (Exodus 2:23b-25</b> <b>NLT)</b></p><p></p><p align="center">Johnny R. Almond</p><p align="center">Christian preacher and writer</p><p align="center">Author, <i>Gentle Whispers from Eternity</i></p><p align="center">This devotion based on Day 38 of <i>Gentle Whispers from Eternity</i>]</p><p align="center"><a href="http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/">http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/</a></p><p align="center"></p></div>Friend in the Highest Placehttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs1/friend-in-the-highest-place2014-09-05T21:31:29.000Z2014-09-05T21:31:29.000ZJohnny Russell Almondhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/JohnnyRussellAlmond<div><p>There is Someone who loves you more than any friend you have on Facebook.</p><p></p><p><b>“Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.” (Alfred, Lord Tennyson]</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p>Born from above, we have a Friend in eternity—Elyon, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, supreme over all.</p><p> </p><p>He defeats our spiritual enemies (Genesis 14:20), teaches us timeless truth (Numbers 24:16), inspires a song in the night (Psalm 7:17), fills our heart with joy (Psalm 46:4), rules as Sovereign over all nations (Psalm 47:2), challenges us to keep our vows of devotion (Psalm 50:14), redeems us from sin (Psalm 78:35), hears our prayers (Psalm 86:6), provides rest under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:1), and is worthy of worship above all false gods (Psalm 97:9).</p><p> </p><p>From His exalted throne, He scans earth for people who yearn to be released from bondage to the Pharaoh of hell and enjoy authentic friendship with their Creator.</p><p> </p><p>From His elevated perspective, He sees through the thicket of our fight to survive. When we look up through dense bewilderment, we can detect a golden ray of hopeful light. Bending our knee in devotion to God, we sing His praises at all times and places.</p><p> </p><p>Our Greatest Friend promises that ultimately He will make everything new—</p><p>replacing old earth’s egomania with new earth’s kindness,</p><p>transforming old chaos into new calm,</p><p>superimposing the New Jerusalem on old crime-ridden cities,</p><p>making old heartaches obsolete by new songs,</p><p>killing old death by new life,</p><p>wiping away old tears with new joy,</p><p>erasing old pain with new bodies.</p><p> </p><p>From our limited point of view, all this may seem unlikely to come true. But God is trustworthy and will surely keep His promises. As a friend of mine once told me, if the Bible is not true, nothing is true. </p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, we should train our heart to listen prayerfully to gentle whispers from eternity, not merely our five dictatorial physical senses. If we use the sixth sense God has given us, we can imagine invisible realities. Now we believe—then we will see.</p><p> </p><p>Bowing our head, we worship our Friend in the highest place.</p><p> </p><p> <b>“When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:30-31</b> <b>NIV)</b></p><p> </p><p align="center">Johnny R. Almond</p><p align="center">Christian preacher and writer</p><p align="center">Author, <i>Gentle Whispers from Eternity</i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/">http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/</a></p><p align="center"></p></div>