I was talking with a friend the other day about prayer, and she shared a great idea, one that got me thinking about harnessing technology for Christ. Faced with a negative diagnosis from a doctor, she decided to take time each day to pray for healing. Because she is on the go most of the time, she decided set an alert on her phone that would remind her to pray daily and confess some healing scriptures over her physical body. Once she prays, she turns off the alert until the next day. She plans to do this until she is healed. 

What a great use of her phone, I thought. She is making technology work for her, not against her. In a time where we are never out of reach of our phones and tech, I wondered, how else can we harness the power of technology to work for us, not against us?

Continue reading: Taking Tech for Christ / His Inscriptions

I wrote this article recently and thought it might be fun to share it here.

I read a passage that I have been processing for years. It is found in 2 Kings 7. The setting is a desperate one. The Arameans have laid siege to the city of Samaria. There is a famine in the land, and the people are in crisis.

In the midst of the darkness, the prophet Elisha matter-of-factly predicts that by this time tomorrow there will be an abundance of food. In verse 2, the officer attending the king scoffs at Elisha’s prediction, saying, “Even if the Lord should open the windows of heaven, this is not even in the realm of possibility” (my paraphrase).

The story’s action continues at twilight, with four lepers making a desperate decision to go over to the Aramean camp. They reason, “If we stay here, we will die of starvation. If we go over there and they spare us, we live, and if they kill us, we have lost nothing” (my paraphrase).

But when the lepers reach the Aramean camp, what they see is beyond their wildest belief: The Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses and a great army. The Arameans had become so afraid that they had dropped everything and fled for their homeland. So the lepers eat and drink and loot some tents of valuable items. The lepers hide some of the spoils but then decide to tell the others in the city about their good fortune.

So they go back and call out to the gatekeepers, telling them all that had transpired. The gatekeepers relay the message to the king, but he is convinced it is a trap. So he sends out a few soldiers to investigate. They return with news that verifies the lepers’ story. Pandemonium breaks out among the starving people as they rush madly out of the city to get their share of the plunder from the Aramean camp. The king had assigned his officer to the gate—the same officer who had said, “Even if the Lord should open the windows of heaven, this could not happen.” The officer was trampled to death as the people ran out to get their share of the bounty.

This passage teaches us a number of lessons.

The king’s officer looked at the situation through natural and faithless eyes. It is not just the king’s officer who lived faithlessly, but I do too sometimes. Unfortunately, I reside there more often than I want to admit to you or to myself. This kind of weak praying and faithlessness is the opposite of where we are called to be. Biblical heroes are noted for a different kind of faith and prayers. Take Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they are facing the blazing furnace. They say, “But even if he does not [even if God does not save us from the furnace], we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).

Queen Esther made the same choice to have faith as her people were about to be destroyed by the wicked Haman. She was willing to move forward even if it cost her very life.

Faithful praying and living are not based on circumstances or people in any way. Ann and I have needed to use this kind of faith and praying several times during recent years. On May 22, 2011, I was training a prayer team for a trip to Indonesia. It was a Sunday afternoon and my dad called. My folks are in their 80s and never call me, especially on a Sunday, because they know they might catch me in a meeting or teaching somewhere. I knew something was up. Dad left a message that sounded like he had just gone through an atomic bomb. “Paul,” he said as his voice shook. “We just went through a tornado. It is all gone. The house, barns, and the garage—they are all gone.” After a long pause, “Call me.”

We left the next morning to help dig out from the devastation. Along the way a new level of faith was needed and a different kind of prayer posture. Not a different position but an intensified trust and faith level was demanded for the prayers we prayed. So many questions had to be answered, and all of them were beyond our control. Where were they going to live? What do you do with the few things that were not destroyed in the storm? Why them? The house a quarter of a mile north and the one to the south did not lose even a shingle. Why did God take their dream house and turn it into splinters?

After the tornado they decided to summer in Missouri and winter in Arizona. So they packed up a few things in a U-Haul, and I flew out to get them and to drive the U-Haul back to Arizona. Seventy-five miles from home they were rear-ended by the driver of an eighteen wheeler. Mom’s back was broken, and she had to have a 4-inch titanium rod placed in her back. Dad had the leads of his pacemaker ripped from his heart. Later we learned that his back had been broken also. Neither of them was paralyzed, but both needed a big rig’s worth of care. Again we moved into a unique kind of praying and the faith we learned from 2 Kings 7.

Learn to capture your struggles and missteps under trial. In high school I remember dissecting a frog. We had large push pins and after each incision we would peel back some flesh and pin it down so that we could see more clearly the organs of the frog. In crisis it is as if God is peeling back the layers of protection we strategically placed in our lives so that we are viewed positively by others. With those layers out of the way, the difficulties allow us to see motives, plans, thoughts and actions that are not pure or need work. The trick is to capture those offensive thoughts or actions as they surface so that we can deal with them when the storm passes. These fleshly parts of us are hidden unless we are in the worst of trials. Capturing those thoughts and actions can give us great material to pray over and repent from. We are learning to view them as a loving father allowing us to see clearly our struggles and then helping us step up to greater maturity. We have a long way to go, but we are grateful that God goes before us.

The goal is to be continually grateful. Now that I have lived awhile, I have witnessed people who are fearful or angry or have shut down. It is clear they are still with the king’s servant in 2 Kings 7, living without trust and deep prayer. By contrast I have met a small few who trust the Lord so completely that nothing fazes them. When something happens they shrug it off with words like, “The Lord has protected me so beautifully before, he will do it again,” or, “I am so grateful that the Lord handles all my struggles so wonderfully.” These people are rare. But boy do they stand out and are admired by the rest of us.

My friend Jake is like that (not his real name). He is the most grateful man I know. Nothing rattles him. His faith, trust and prayers just cannot be shaken because of his appreciation for what Jesus has done for him already. Learning this level of gratefulness has opened doors for him that are just not normal. Recently he was entertained by a monarch of a wealthy country. The leader invited him into his home and introduced Jake to his family and close friends. Jake’s gratefulness and trust are simply magnetic to the people he is around—even people of different faiths.

True confessions: I am certainly not there yet. I complain too much and whine more that I want to admit. But I can see the goal and am striving for it. I am way too often like the king’s servant, expressing that something can’t be done. But I see it and I am moving in the direction of my grateful friend Jake and those biblical heroes who just could not be shaken. 

​

Despite all of our divisions and denominations, the great test for every Christian is the test of love. Can we love without judging, when our brother believes differently than we do? Can we rejoice in the preaching of the gospel by those "less qualified" than ourselves? Can we allow for differences of opinion and interpretation while still agreeing on the essentials of the faith? 

This is the great test for every Christian: not simply to preach the gospel ourself, but to allow others to preach Christ in the knowledge they have attained, however limited. Paul recognized this in his letter to the Philippians. Instead of being upset by those who preached Christ out of "selfish ambition" or even contention, he rejoiced that the gospel was being preached at all! (SeePhilippians 1:15-18). Sometimes, even those who attack our faith end up drawing more attention to it, instead of causing its demise.

Click here to continue article:

the-test-of-love

In the wake of several brutal terror attacks around the Temple Mount over the weekend, hundreds gathered Sunday in the historic Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem to pray. These were joined by millions of Christians united globally for The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ).

Over 1400 global Christian leadersendorse this growing prayer movement calling believers to intercede for the city God calls His own and to invoke God’s blessing, purposes, and provision upon all of Jerusalem’s people. Hispanic evangelical leader the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, oversees more than 500,000 Latino churches globally that participate each year. Dr. Jeff Farmer, President of Pentecostal/Charismatic Church of North America (PCCNA) – which represents over 480,000 churches and nearly 90 million followers of Christ worldwide – has also recently endorsed the DPPJ.

From over 175 nations, believers gathered to pray in their churches and homes from cities to rural villages, from huts to mansions, and from cathedrals to underground churches in China and seven Muslim countries. They also joined in intercession via the prayer app “Instapray” and on a global 24 Hour Prayer Conference Call. (Photo: DPPJ in Seoul Korea, Oct. 4th)

Broadcast by GOD TV to 500 million viewers in almost 200 nations, people were also able to participate in the special Jerusalem DPPJ Celebration - hosted by Eagles’ Wings Founder / Executive Director Rev.Robert Stearns - at Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East. Host Pastor Rev. David Pileggi (photo at right) opened the service in prayer and shared that “the very motto of Christ Church since 1830 has been: ‘Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.’ ” Some of the speakers included: Anne Ayalon, President of The Galilean Project & Christian Friends of Magen David Adom Israel (and the wife of Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, Daniel Ayalon); Ken Howard of Christian Friends of Israel; Rev. Petra Heldt, of The Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity; Rick Ridings, Founder of Succat Hallel; 24/7 House of Prayer; Peter Tsukahira, Director of Or HaCarmel Ministry Center, and keynote speaker Canon Andrew White – popularly known as the "Vicar of Baghdad".

Normally the guest speakers also include many Jewish religious and governmental leaders as well but this year, the first Sunday of October coincided with the holiday of Simchat Torah, which limited Jewish participation.

This multi-national, multi-denominational global prayer movement was started in 2002 and is co-chaired by Evangelical Christian leaders Rev. Robert Stearns, Dr. Jack W. Hayford, and Dr. Paul Cedar.

With more than 40 nations represented in the sanctuary and almost 200 nations watching the broadcast, Rev. Stearns issued a strong challenge to the nations: “Don’t ask God to bless your city unless you bless His city – Jerusalem. Don’t ask God to bless your family unless you bless His family – the Jewish people. In Jerusalem we will see The Mashiach (Messiah) reign in glory and power!” He also added, “God has a blessing for both the sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael.”

“The Vicar of Baghdad”, Canon Andrew White, who was educated in Jerusalem at both Hebrew University and a Jewish Yeshiva, shared a story from his present work as President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, which led him recently to gather key Rabbis and several Islamic Ayatollahs. After 3 challenging days together, the Rabbis said to the Ayatollahs: “We have heard your story and now we love you.” The Ayatollahs responded to the Rabbis: “We hated you, but we have looked into your eyes; once you were our enemies but now you are our friends.” White said: “God is at work amongst us. What we know is that the Lord is here. Ultimately, we will see the power of God come forth from Israel to the nations.”

The Jerusalem DPPJ celebration was saturated in prayer for God’s city and people. “We pray that as Christian brothers and sisters we no longer can be silent among the nations…bind us together with our Jewish brothers and sisters, for together we are the family of the One True God,” prayed Ken Howard of Christian Friends of Israel. Rev. Dr. Heldt prayed for the five orphans who had just lost their parents on Shabbat of Sukkot in a brutal terror attack, lamenting that a high time of praise became a high time of sorrow. “Lord, we beseech you to take the place of the children’s parents who were murdered by the hatred of men. We pray for the nations who are full of hatred against Jerusalem; please make their hearts as tender as the heart of Abraham who served you with all his soul.”  As one of the few Asian Christian leaders in Israel, Peter Tsukahira prayed that God would plant a seed in the hearts of Christians from all of the Asian nations and the Far East, and raise up millions from those lands to “stand as watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.” And as Jesus taught His disciples, Rick Ridings led those gathered in praying a blessing even over those who would perpetrate violence and terror against the Jewish and Christian communities in the Middle East.

Throughout the 24 hours of October 4^th, over 500 believers from around the world also prayed together through the 24-Hour DPPJ Prayer Conference Call hosted by www.greatercalling.org. Callers representing many states in the U.S. were joined by believers from the nations, praying a total of 17,472 combined minutes of prayer, which is the equivalent to one person praying for the peace of Jerusalem non-stop for more than 12 days.

Social media was also a key part of October 4^th with global believers joining one another in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem through the world’s leading prayer app,Instapray. As soon as one person would release their written prayer for Jerusalem, a multitude of others from the US and places like India, France, Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, South Korea, Nepal, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and even Iran, immediately sent back messages saying that they too had prayed that prayer for Jerusalem.

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem – on the first Sunday of every October - is the largest Jerusalem-focused prayer initiative in the world, involving tens of millions of believers participating each year from over 175 nations. It is endorsed by prominent Christian leaders worldwide, including T.D Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Michael W. Smith, Dick Eastman, Ron Luce, Kay Arthur, Jane Hansen Hoyt, K.P. Yohannan, Ravi Zacharias, Dr. Raleigh Washington, Kenneth Copeland, Lance Wallnau, Larry Stockstill, Bishop Charles Scott, The Newsboys, Dennis Balcombe, Sunday Adelaja, and many more.

I would like to send you a free downloadable copy of  “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren” which have helped me and many others to pray for our grandchildren.

 I have found when I pray according to God’s Word, I am in line with His will. I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is renewed to His perspective about the situation for which I am praying, instead of my own thoughts. 

Nothing threatens the enemy (Satan) more than when we are intentionally praying God’s Word for our children, grandchildren, their parents and ourselves. We read in Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12” (NLT)

I also like the Bible verse in Isaiah 55:11,

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

 It shall not return to Me void,  

 but it shall accomplish what I please, . . . (NKJV)

 It tells me that God’s Word will not return void. 

When I started claiming God’s promises and personalizing his Word I experienced more confidence, boldness and peace in my praying. I believe God’s Word puts power in our prayer life. The movie War Room focused predominantly on the importance of prayer and how speaking to God directly can help people change our lives. Claim God’s promises for your grandchildren and their parents. There are many scriptures in Psalms, Proverbs, the gospels, and Paul’s writings can be used in our prayer.

Here is an example:  Accept Advice    I pray that Susan will listen to constructive criticism and correction, and through it gain understanding. Proverbs 15:31,32

 If you complete the form (on the right) to receive the blogs regularly with grandparenting suggestions on my website, or if you email me, I will send you a free downloadable copy of the “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren”. We have distributed these Scriptures to thousands of grandparents and I hope you too, will find them helpful in praying intentionally for your grandchildren. “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren” is available in English and Spanish. To receive the Spanish translations email me at info@gdptpr.com .

By Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network

lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

“Pray for me.” Driving home from preaching at a Sunday worship service, thinking about the next sermon I would present to the congregation a few weeks later, these words shot across my mind. “Pray for me.” None other than the apostle Paul, asking Christians in Ephesus (6:19) to pray for him. Those three words immediately became the text of my next sermon.

Certainly the scriptures contain these words because yet two thousand years later, the Church needs to hear and heed his appeal. It is the appeal of the Holy Spirit to remind us to “pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) and “too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (Colossian 4:3).

As daily life becomes more stressful and as families struggle to survive or even merely to function, members of the Body of Christ need to be schooled and skilled in responding to this sometime agonizing plea; “pray for me.” In increasing measure, even the most veteran Christ-followers are in need of prayer that results in physical healing, an emotional strengthening of hope, or a practical blessing of help. We must hear this appeal when listening to the “how are you?” responses from the newest believer to the most revered servant leader. No one is immune from the trials and troubles of life. As the apostle said, “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

“Pray for me” praying, is the ability to enter into the pressures and problems of the simplest personal story with “powerful and effective” prayers (James 5:16). For our peers. Youth or a child in distress. Fracturing families. Weary leaders . Praying for them like Epaphras, “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colosians 4:12).

“Pray for me” is a call, sometimes a cry, for help that we must respond to by praying beyond temporal circumstances toward a deepening discipleship in the life of the person we pray for. So that. So that they stand strong, unmovable in their faith in God’s good will no matter what swirls around them, mature in their response to even an evil enemy, and fully assured “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Pray for me” is also a trumpet blast for the Gospel; a call to advance the message of Christ into the lives of neighbors and neighborhoods, near and far.

The apostle issued his request for intercession so “that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19. In other words, pray for me so that I have opportunities to witness to the salvation God presents in Jesus our Lord.

“Pray for me” is both reactive and proactive. Reactive, when we petition the Lord on behalf of another as a response to the defeats and dis-eases that have inflicted them. Proactive, when we pray toward a future of new opportunities to advance the life-transforming message of our Savior.

Sadly, the standard “pray for me” prayer so many of us offer is inadequate. The enemy we battle calls for a strategy that is more scriptural and more spiritual. Merely praying louder or longer will not bring victory. This three-word plea needs a three-letter strategy: A-s-k.

            For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;                       

            and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8

The Lord has instructed us to ask. Paul told us “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, (to) present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Our problem is not that we refuse or fail to ask. Our weakness is that in asking, we begin with conclusions rather than starting with questions. We mostly tell God information he already knows (he is omniscient, remember?) and conclude with solutions we have determined are best in each case. And, sometimes God’s grace gives us what we want, when we want it, in the way we want it. Sometimes.

Asking that begins with questions takes longer. Requires listening. Even learning. Sounds like, well, the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 7:8. He told us to ask and to seek. Asking-by-telling has no need of seeking, other than to wait for the response we have outlined in our prayer instructions to the Almighty. But asking-by-questioning is a radically different approach. After all, when you ask a question, the sensible thing to do is to be still, even silent, so you can hear the answer and discern next steps.

            For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds;

            and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Matthew 7:8 Amplified

So, when someone asks you to “pray for me,” don’t. Not until you have asked a few questions. Not until the asking of questions shifts your prayers from your best thoughts and wishes to discerning what is in the Father’s heart (2 Thessalonians 3:5), the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and the ministry of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:8).

So, when someone asks you to pray for them, first ask . . .

• Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you (Romans 8:26) ... Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you (Ephesians 5:18) (“let the Spirit stimulate your soul” Phillips) then seek (yield) to his leading
• Ask the person for a brief description of the who-what-where-when-why of their presenting-problem ... then ask (and listen) to them answer “how” they see/sense/discern God’s presence/ purposes in the midst of the circumstances they are asking you to pray about
• ... this may be an opportunity to ask them to pray from the insights they have just shared with you because it may be the first time they have allowed the Lord to reveal his presence and promises in the midst of their problem
• ... as they pray, ask the Spirit to give you insight into how to respond; pray from something they said? Share a scripture? Ask them what they heard from the Lord as they were praying?
• Ask others to join you in prayer. It may be appropriate to invite one or a few other persons to join you in a prayer circle for the person who asked for prayer. Ask first for that person’s permission, explaining this is like hearing in stereo when several listen and discern at the same time.
• Ask both trusted veteran intercessors as well as someone who needs deeper discipling in prayer (this will become a learning lab for them).
• Ask for feedback. After prayer (yours, the persons you have invited to pray with you for this friend, or after the person requesting prayer has said a prayer), ask a simple, wide-open question: “Have you (has anyone) received a scripture verse or a thought we might consider for further praying?” If someone shares, simply go back to asking the Holy Spirit for leading, guiding, focusing.
• Ask the person receiving prayer to update you about the issue but make the commitment to reach out if they do not give you a timely reply.

            And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.                                                 Matthew 21:22

Ask. Questions, that is.

Seek. Stop, be silent, search scripture.

Knock . When you know you’ve heard the will of God, then knock the door down!a

The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage required of all Muslims who are able.  During the 3-day event, around 3 million Muslims from all over the world flock to Mecca (Saudi Arabia) to perform sacred acts and follow the steps of Muhammad, their prophet. This year, the Hajj will start on September 21st and last for 3-4 days.

Muslims participate in the pilgrimage and rituals of  Hajj because it allows them to seek forgiveness for their sins; however, even the Hajj is not a guarantee of forgiveness.  Muslims know Jesus as Isa al-Masih, a prophet recognized by Mohammed; but to speak of him as Savior or as God is blasphemy to a Muslim.  The city of Mecca itself is forbidden to all non-Muslims.

Christians around the world pray for Muslims during Hajj (similar to prayers for the Muslim world during Ramadan).  This is a time where Muslims making the pilgrimage are sensitized to spiritual matters.  Some have had visions of Isa al-Masih during this time - proof that God is still breaking through to Muslims even as they seek to earn forgiveness from someone who is not God.  A prayer guide for the Hajj, from Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula (PTAP) is attached.  Please join us in prayer!

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and one of the harshest countries in the world for Christians.  Ranked #12 on Open Doors' 2015 World Watch List, Saudi Arabia is defined by a purist version of Islam called Wahhabism.  Practice of any other religion is forbidden, and conversion to another religion is punishable by death.  According to the World Watch List, radical Islam finds a breeding ground in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi funding of terrorism abroad is the main source of Sunni terrorism in the world.  Converts to Christianity from Islam face the risk of being killed or abused by their own families. House churches are often raided by the religious police. 

Saudi oil money funds a worldwide propagation of Islam through aid to sympathetic countries, building mosques, sending missionaries, distributing literature, and funding of Western educational institutions with the condition that they must build a center for Islamic studies.  The Saudi government denies Christians the liberty to share their faith, but expects Muslims to be granted this liberty elsewhere.

All Saudi citizens are officially Muslim and it is impossible for a non-Muslim to gain citizenship. However, the large expat population (more than 30 percent) includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs. It is not permissible to practice any form of religion publicly, other than the government-sanctioned interpretation of Sunni Islam. Despite this, there are a number of secret Saudi believers – perhaps even a large number.

September 23 is the annual Saudi Day of Prayer, this year coinciding with the final day of the Hajj.  We invite you to join in prayer on this day for the country of Saudi Arabia, as well as for Muslims on the Hajj.

Prayer Guide for Hajj:  Hajj2015US.pdf

Operation World: Prayer for Saudi Arabia:  http://www.operationworld.org/saud

World watch list prayer for Saudi Arabia:  http://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/saudi-arabia/

Catalyst

So just what is a catalyst? Chemistry students will likely think of a substance that brings about a chemical reaction. But another definition is, a person or thing that precipitates an event. Have you ever experienced a person enter into a room full of hostile and hateful people and seen them thaw out, smile, and enjoy a new atmosphere for a while? This reminds me of a report from the earlier Welsh revival. The revival so vividly transformed the vocabulary of the coal miners, that they had to retrain the mules to understand their new commands.

When a movement sweeps in and overnight changes what comes out of the mouth of a salty coal miner, this is an unmistakable work of God. If you doubt that, just how successful have you been in controlling your own mouth?

But this introduction merely sets the stage for a difficult question. What precedents might have led up to such a sweeping revival that is impossible for men to orchestrate? So in our considerations today of possible factors that have preceded revival, we now ask, “what might be considered a catalyst for revival?” From our beginning definition I’d like to propose that we are looking for a person or thing that precipitates an event. I am going to suggest that a revival catalyst is a person whom God uses through persistent prayer and godly attitudes and attributes to precipitate revival that only God can bring about. What might that list of qualities include?

Listed below are several attributes that seem to capture God’s attention as he looks us all over to find a heart that he can trust.

• Humility
• Brokenness over personal, regional, and national sin
• Hunger and thirst for God
• Obedience, as a way of responding to God’s love
• Keeping our word, especially when it hurts
• Patience and endurance, especially in prayers of humility, repentance, adoration, & intercession
• Integrity
• Holiness
• Passion (Hot; NOT lukewarm)
• Respect, Honor, “Fear,” Worship of God
• Desperation

Please respond in two ways: 1-let me know what qualities are missing; 2- join me in praying for revival beginning with us and moving outward throughout God’s sphere of influence.

For inspiration I have two suggestions: 1-go next week to see the movie War Room; 2- read up on the Moravians who gave up their bickering, gripes, and hostilities for unquenchable round-the-clock prayer that promoted John 17 unity and whetted the appetite for thousands to love and serve God!

See You at the Pole, Wednesday, September 23, 2015  - Global Week of Student Prayer

Sunday, September 20 through Saturday, September 26, 2015 

Have you heard of See You at the Pole? It is a time when students gather around the school flagpole to pray. ! The Global Week of Student Prayer is dedicated to prayer and launching your on-campus Bible clubs, prayer strategies, and student ministries.

I think it is great time for grandparents to pray for this event, especially if you have teenage grandchildren. One - that the school will allow students to gather at the flagpole to pray,. Second -  that Christian students will take a stand strong in the Lord to unite in prayer interceding for their generation.

We read in Acts 1:14, “They all met together and were constantly UNITED in prayer.”  The theme verse follows Paul’s famous passage on the armor of God, challenging and encouraging Christ followers to stand strong in the Lord and be His representatives to share the Good News of the Gospel. For the last 25 years, See You at the Pole has been about one simple act—prayer. See You at the Pole is about students uniting themselves in prayer before God interceding for their generation.

There are two opportunities to unite in prayer with their friends:

• DAY: SEE YOU AT THE POLE day is on Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 a.m. local time. All around the globe, in every time zone, students will be gathering at their flagpoles, praying for their school, friends, families, churches, and communities. SEE YOU AT THE POLE is a day committed to global unity in Christ and prayer for your generation.

WEEK: The GLOBAL WEEK OF STUDENT PRAYER (Sunday, September 20 through Saturday, September 26) encourage students to find new and unique ways, places, and times to pray throughout the week. Whether your grandchildren attend PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, or HOME SCHOOL, encourage them to gather with their friends wherever and whenever and pray.

Pray for:

• Your school’s event on Wednesday, September 23. See You at the Pole™.
• The students who are leading and planning your See You at the Pole™ at your school.
• The Christians at your school to show up ready to pray on See You at the Pole™ day.
• The non-Christian students on your campus who will see or hear about See You at the Pole.
• Christian students on your campus to make the most of this unique opportunity to explain what happened on the morning of See You at the Pole™ and to be a witness for Christ.

To learn more about See You at the Pole go to the website: http://syatp.com

By Lillian Penner

Lance Wallnau, says, “You get to choose the environment you create. You can create an environment that draws people to the Kingdom or pulls them out.” 

Rather than adopting your street with the intention of implementing program, folks who join ‪http:lovejax2020.org‬ and sign up to adopt their street spend time talking to God about their neighbors before they talk to their neighbors about God .… engaging in the ministry of presence and becoming more aware, alert, and awake to the fullness of the immediate moment.

Among its various ministries, the Church Prayer Leaders' Network conducts prayer conferences at local churches.  These conferences provide teaching in the form of keynote sessions and breakout groups, as well as opportunities for worship and prayer.  They also bring together a great selection of books and other resources to help participants grow in prayer.

If you lead others in prayer, either individually or in a group setting, or if you facilitate prayer ministry, check out the Prayer Leaders group here on PrayNetwork.org.  Started by Phil Miglioratti in 2010, the group is targeted to prayer leaders, seeking to equip leaders in both their personal prayer lives and prayer ministries.

Just wondering—Three reasons why many churches are not houses of prayer.

--One is the lack of Seminary Training in prayer and prayer ministry.

--The second is that many preachers are men—unfortunately a majority of men have trouble working through heart matters, which true deep prayer is about.

--A third reason follows the second possible reason. Since many men have a hard time relating to heart issues, they have a hard time following a pastor who does-especially when it comes to prayer.

Would like to hear comments from pastors who have struggled with their church being a house of prayer.

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.

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.

FORGIVENESS AND PRAYER

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.

PATIENCE AND PRAYER

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.

HUMILITY AND PRAYER

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.

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.

Next week I plan to begin a series of blog entries on the Foundations of Prayer

watchinginprayer.blogspot.com

As the summer draws to a close, our thoughts naturally turn to the beginning of the school year.  Students today - from Elementary through College - face challenges not faced by previous generations.  The declining morality in America, emphasis on individual freedom and situational ethics, and a general crisis of faith combine to push students toward destructive patterns, such as drugs, sex, gangs, and even suicide.  On the surface, the situation appears increasingly desperate.  Below the surface, however, is a God who hears and answers prayer.

Are you a grandparent?  If so, God has given you a special opportunity to bless multiple generations of your family through prayer.  If you're looking for a meaningful way to impact your family tree through the generations, you couldn't find a better ministry than that of prayer.

PrayNetwork.org has a group especially devoted to this topic:  Grandparents@Prayer.  Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network, created the group and regularly posts tips, information, and resources to help grandparents pray.  Several books and links to websites are featured in the group, as well as a discussion on praying for grandchildren.

Here is a sample of recent topics addressed in the group:

• Brief book review of Courageous Grandparenting: Unshakeable Faith in a Broken World
• Introduction to Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren
• Promotion for the Grandparents' Day of Prayer
• The rippling effect of a praying grandparent

When Samuel, the last judge of Israel, was giving way to Saul, the first king, his final address to the people included these words: "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right" (1 Samuel 12:23).  Whether you're near your children and grandchildren or farther away, whether deeply involved in their daily lives or less so, the biggest impact you can have on them is to pray.

Check out Lillian's group (link above) and the website, http://www.christiangrandparenting.net for help and encouragement.  And offer your encouragement to others!

PrayNetwork.org Spotlight by Andrew Wheeler.

See Andrew's website at www.togetherinprayer.net

Intercessors for America has just opened a new online store, that has valuable resources to help you pray for the nation. IFAresources.com has more than 100 products available--everything from prayer guides, to DVDs to books.

Sorted by topical categories, the store is easy to find what you are looking for. IFA also features many of the classic resources of Derek Prince, who wrote prolifically on praying for a nation.

Perhaps its strongest category is Revival and Transformation, which highlights many interesting resources, but features most of the works and DVDs of Dr. Alistair Petrie. His newest release, which just came off the presses, In Holy Fear, is currently available.