In the 15^th century, Martin Luther wanted to renew genuine worship. For centuries monks had kept the scriptures and sacred music locked away in monasteries. But after printing press put the Gutenberg bible back in the hands of the common man in the 1450’s, Luther worked to put worship back in the hands, and minds of the common man to fuel the revival that swept Europe. History says that Luther wrote new hymns to bar tunes and folk songs. His goal to implant the seed of God’s word deep in the hearts and minds of his listeners centered around these common melodies. He hoped that when men  went about their daily routines, the Holy Spirit could bring to mind eternal truth. Charles Wesley continued this approach when we wrote over 6000 songs for Christian worship on the 18^th century.

Between Luther and Wesley’s day, the Protestant Reformation gave birth to another explosive renewal in the arts. Symphonic composers like Handel, Beethoven and Mozart rose to the forefront of their craft, and many of their works were dedicated to the King of Kings, and Lords of Lords. Today, concert hall audiences still stand and sing along at the climax of Handel’s Messiah. Imagine pipe organs and orchestras performing the Halleluiah Chorus on stately cathedrals and vaulted concert halls throughout the last 3 centuries. Classic music in the 21^st century, Handel and Beethoven were contemporary musicians of the 16^th and 17^th century.

In the 20^th century, the Jesus movement and the charismatic outpouring that flowed across the American church gave birth to another revolution in contemporary music. Even though the traditional church was hesitant to change, today contemporary Christian music is on its way to becoming traditions for the 21^st century church.

Worship is never about the outer form, or style of music. Worship is about the heart of the worshipper. Whenever our hearts are more concerned about what is on the outside than the whole hearted devotion on the inside, we are in need of another revival. Real worship must be genuine, contemporary worshiper, heartfelt, and surrendered.

Looking into the scriptures, another idea is essential to genuine worship. Abraham stood at the foot of Mt Moriah. He’d waited for 25 years for his son Isaac, raised him for another 13, and now he’d traveled three days to a mountain’s name whose name means “God will see” to offer him, at God’s request, as a sacrafice.

Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. (Gen 22.5 KJV)

Abraham’s worship included:

• He was obeying God, without hesitation.
• He was going with the full intent of sacrificing his son.
• His faith and relationship with God was so deep, that he knew that Isaac was the son that God had promised.
• He intended to kill his son, not to please god, but to obey him
• He knew that he would also return with his son, because God is faithful to keep his promises.

Genuine worship, praise and prayer that changes our hearts and pleases God includes personal cost. Abraham learned the lesson by obeying God, and trusting him with the results. David also said that he wouldn’t offer a sacrifice that didn’t’ come at personal cost to himself, and he learned these hard lessons the same way – by what he did.

And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, "To buy the threshing floor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (2 Sam 24.20-24 KJV)

Genuine praise, worship and prayer aren’t about how we feel. These essential pieces of a Christ-centered life aren’t about the environment around us, or the music we listen to. Genuine worship flows from a heart that’s surrendered to God, loves Him, gives up your rights voluntarily, obeys Him and follows wherever He leads.

 A photo prayer journal is a working document to help grandparents pray intentionally for their grandchildren, whether they live far away or nearby. The photo prayer journal will make praying more meaningful. You will feel more connected when you see the pictures of your grandchildren as you are praying for them. I made my photo prayer journal in a three ring binder with a divider for each grandchild, that way I could redo it each year when they start a new school year.

Instructions for Photo Prayer Journal Profile Sheet

On the profile sheet, place your grandchild’s picture in the designated spot and complete the profile with his/her information.

Grandchild’s Profile

(Place your grandchild’s

picture here.)

Profile Sheet For ____________________

Date_______________

Name:

Address:

Telephone #: Cell #

E-mail address:

Birthday: Age:

Grade in school: School:

Teacher:

Church:

Friends:

Favorite activities:

Character strengths:

(You may have other ideas to add to the profile.)

Instructions for Prayer Concern Sheet

Make a page to record the date, praises, prayer concerns, and the hopes and dreams for your grandchild on which you want to focus your prayers. If desired, choose a scripture from the “Scriptures to Pray for Grandchildren” or the list of "Prayer Suggestions for the Various Life’s Stages” or other suggestions from the book, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren. Record your concerns about their safety, health, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual growth, strength to resist temptations and the deception of the world.

Suggestions

I am just giving you suggestions to get you started. Use your creativity and make the Photo Prayer Journal to meet your needs. I don't use the photo prayer journal every day, only once or twice a week. However, it does help me connect with the grandchildren more often, especially in my thoughts.

If convenient, take your grandchildren out for a meal or ice cream to ask them for the information needed to fill out the profile sheets, and tell them why you are doing it. You

may also ask them the questions on the telephone, through e-mail, or however you find it convenient. If you are making the journal on the computer, use Print Shop or another program to enhance the pages, inserting your digital pictures, and making as many pages as you need.

You will find more creative ideas to help you with your praying for your grandchildren in he book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren on this website. http://www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com/.

Lillian Penner

In 1727, a community of believers in Herrnhut, Saxony, in what is now the eastern edge of Germany, started praying.

They didn’t stop for 100 years.

Advance to September 1999, when believers in Kansas City began praying and worshipping. That group has been praying 24/7 since then.

In both Herrnhut and at International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Christians listened to the Lord and initiated something radical, diving into extraordinary prayer and worship.

In both places, prayer brought deep transformation of people’s lives, and resulted in many taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Fast forward

In Burleson, Texas in spring 1990, a group of students surrendered to God during a weekend retreat. They heard His prompting to go pray at three schools, after dark on a Saturday night, and obeyed. For them, it was powerful – and inspired the first See You at the Pole that September, when more than 45,000 students prayed across Texas and in three other states. From there, SYATP blew up. Millions have prayed – all over the world.

In September 2013, imagine what might happen if students ask the Lord how prayer might change them, their schools, their communities…their world. And then do it. Not just pray, but seek His face, and turn from sin.

This is the passion behind See You at the Pole in 2013. Not just a prayer meeting before school; donuts and OJ; “been there, done that, go to class.” But students saying, “This week, God…do You want to do something radical through us? We’ll pray before school, after school, at lunch, all night…whatever YOU want us to do. But it starts with us: listening, seeking, obeying.”

What's different about SYATP this year?

This year, it’s not just a day. SYATP will be a Global Student Prayer Week, September 22-28, 2013. At the center of the week is See You at the Pole Day — Wednesday, September 25 at 7:00 AM local time.

The theme for SYATP 2013 is #IFthen, taking 2 Chronicles 7:14 seriously: IF we pray, seek, turn. THEN God hears, forgives, heals.

For See You at the Pole 2013, students are challenged to find new and unique ways, places, and times to pray throughout Global Student Prayer Week—Sunday, September 22 through Saturday, September 28. Whether they attend public school, private school, or home school, they can gather their friends wherever and whenever they can to pray any time that week. 

Then on Wednesday, September 25th at 7:00 AM local time, if possible, everyone is encouraged to gather at a school flagpole to pray at See You at the Pole. This means that, all around the world in every time zone, for 24 hours, students will be praying for their school, friends, families, churches, and communities.

A week dedicated to prayer and launching your on-campus Bible clubs, prayer strategies, and student ministries. 

A day committed to global unity in Christ.

How will this See You at the Pole look in your community this year?

We aren't prescribing that to you! We can, however, offer some suggestions that may help you as you lead students and others in your community.  It might mean an all-night prayer vigil, ending at the school. It might be a series of prayer times throughout the week. It might look like students gathering at your churches for concerts of prayer and worship in the evening. God may bring the depth of His presence, and deep conviction and transforming confession.

We don’t know, but God does. That's where your leadership now, through the summer, and before SYATP is important.

We believe you’ll do the youth in your city a big favor if you challenge them to ask God, and do what He says. Do you dare to challenge them, and release them to follow His Spirit’s leading?

Even more, what might happen if we learn with them how to be better listeners to God's voice?

Learning to listen

If we're convinced that God speaks, and we're convinced that He has a perfect plan for your life, your community, and the schools in it, then our job is to learn to listen well. 

You may have great resources for this spiritual discipline. A good starting point is this article on Listening Prayer: http://www.youthworkers.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/blog.view/BlogID/1550. 

Putting it into practice

Use wisdom as you move forward with this in your youth group and community. How you respond to a student's idea - which may seem totally "outside the box" to you - is a good test of your own spiritual listening skills! Handle their ideas prayerfully, taking them before the Lord and others. Pray with them about it. Encourage them. Use the principles you're teaching about "listening prayer" to evaluate and confirm. 

On that Saturday night in Burleson in 1990, it says a lot that the volunteer adult couple - who were with the students when they felt led to go pray at their schools - allowed them to go. It was an outside the box idea that made a huge difference. 

Who knows what God will do in 2013?

Learn more about See You at the Pole at www.syatp.com. 

Corporate prayer loses its effectiveness when intercessors get off track. Here's how you can stay in the flow of the Holy Spirit.As I walked down the corridor toward the large prayer room, several women rushed past me in a panic. They had been praying with more than 50 intercessors from various denominations for pastors in the United States. Eager to find out what was happening, I hurried into the room.

An unbelievable sight met my eyes. Lying on the floor in the middle of the room was a woman intercessor, curled up in a fetal position and groaning as though she were being tortured. Crouched over her was a male intercessor, who was stroking her hair and speaking words of encouragement.

Standing around “the entertainment” were dozens of intercessors—watching. No one was praying now. Their faces revealed many emotions: Some were in shock; others didn’t know what to think; most were simply disgusted.

Asked to correct the situation, I bent down, asked the man to move away and softly whispered into the intercessor’s ear: “Please stop what you are doing. This is not the way the Holy Spirit would lead.”

Gruffly the woman turned her head toward me and growled, “This is the Holy Spirit.”

These kinds of activities are becoming too common in prayer rooms across the nation. If the prayer movement does not establish biblical boundaries and acceptable corporate conduct within the next few years, the work of prayer could be drastically derailed.

Here are some of the flaky intercessory activities with which we should be concerned:

1. Competition in prayer. Moses’ and Aaron’s authority to lead was challenged by Korah and his band with the argument, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord? So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face” (Num. 16:3).

Notice Moses’ answer to Korah and his rebellious associates: “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord” (Num. 16:8-11).

Intercessors have a unique position. We are called to draw near to the throne, hear the voice of God and stand on behalf of others. We who occupy this position should set an example of love, grace, mercy and humility.

Yet I find that among intercessors there is sometimes strife, jealousy and competition, just as there was among Korah and his band. In some cases, the prayer room resembles the New York City stock market trading floor, with each participant trying to pray more frequently, prophesy longer and shout louder than the others do.

Why the spiritual tug of war?

No doubt about it—all intercession is war! But like all of life, intercession has its ebbs and flows. Our friends would wonder about Eddie and me if, after three decades of marriage, we were passionately kissing every time they saw us in public. You might see this type of thing in the movies, but meaningful, real-life relationships are developed in private. Eddie and I don’t need to impress anyone or prove our love to others. Our outward displays of affection are merely an indication of an already secure and stable private relationship.

There are times when, in the heat of battle, the corporate prayer room seems intense, loud, demanding and pushy. After all, Scripture says the violent take the kingdom by force! (See Matt. 11:12). But constant warfare should not be the way every prayer time is handled.

Effective, sincere corporate prayer should reveal all the attributes of God—His gentleness, His tender mercy, His unconditional love and His burden for the lost. There are times when the group will experience total silence before God. At other times, a deep travail for the condition of lost souls will be felt. Joy, expressions of love and celebration should occur occasionally among the intercessors. To reduce group prayer to anything less reveals our immaturity in the private place before God.

2. Emotionalism. Our emotions are a part of our soul (mind, will and emotions). They were given to us by God to serve His purposes. But to function properly, they must be brought under His dominion. Paul instructs us, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts [emotions] on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:1-2, NIV).

Our emotions are as flexible and undependable as an elastic measuring tape. One minute we feel happy; the next, we’re sad. We can have a wonderful time of intimacy in prayer, and in five minutes be yelling at our child for spilling milk on the carpet. Emotional expressions are not necessarily an indication of either the presence, or the lack of the presence, of God.

Amazingly, some corporate prayer groups base their entire prayer time on emotions. Hebrews 11:1-2 tell us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good testimony.” It is faith that moves the heart of God, not emotion.

By faith the elders obtained a good testimony. Yet some of these giants of the faith were tortured, jeered at and flogged, while others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, sawed in two and put to death by the sword (see vv. 35-37).

Most of these mighty men and women didn’t flinch when they were mistreated, misunderstood, persecuted or left destitute. Hebrews 11:38-39 (NIV) says of them, “The world was not worthy of them...These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Their mind-set was one of faith, not feelings.

God knows I am emotional. Eddie calls me radical. In his book Help! I’m Married to an Intercessor (Regal) he describes me in his own terms:

“Alice is radical about everything! This woman would rather watch the Houston Rockets professional basketball team play than eat. She was a cheerleader in school when her father was the football coach. Alice is a Dallas Cowboys football fanatic as well. When the Cowboys game is being televised, everything at our house comes to a screeching halt.

“Now, I like football. I tend to watch the game casually from my recliner. I drink coffee, read the paper and talk on the phone during the game.

Not her! Alice watches the game on her feet—even in our living room! Pacing, lunging, warning and encouraging the players and coaches, my radical wife is not bothered at all that they can’t hear a word she’s saying!”

Being radical is not bad as long as you work to maintain balance in all areas of your life.

3. Inappropriate behavior. Intercessors have a responsibility to represent the Lord both inside and outside the prayer room. We need to learn that that which is biblical is not always appropriate. Ongoing “weird” activity in the prayer setting is likely to be soulish, if not demonic.

An undisciplined mind confuses soulishness and spirituality, allowing the soul to rule over the spirit. An unruly mind has to be “renewed day by day.” The apostle Paul reminds us: “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18, KJV).

To be filled with the Spirit is to exercise the qualities of the Holy Spirit. What are they? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Egrates, the Greek word for temperance, is translated “self-control.” The Holy Spirit will not control you. You must control you!

One form of inappropriate behavior I am concerned about is an alarming manifestation I will call “ecstasy.” This manifestation is misdiagnosed as travail, but it is not genuine godly travail. When it occurs, a glazed expression forms on the intercessor’s face, and he or she voices utterances resembling expressions of sexual gratification. I have actually seen intercessors positioned in a manner that suggests a sexual act is happening.

Beware, women! We must ask the Lord for spiritual discernment concerning such matters. Proper travailing prayer will not cause physical arousal.

Dutch Sheets makes an interesting point about travail in his book, Intercessory Prayer (Regal):

“First, I believe biblical travail is an important, if not essential, part of intercession for the lost. Second, I don’t believe it is defined by groaning, wailing, weeping and hard work. Natural travail certainly is, and spiritual travail can include these things. I do not believe, however, it must include them, and I’m convinced it is not defined by them.”

Dutch goes on to define travailing intercession. It is “a form of intercession that releases the creative power...of the Holy Spirit into a situation to produce, create or give birth to something.”

Not long ago at a conference, I called for repentance by all intercessors who had ever experienced false travail such as I have described. One woman who came forward for prayer told me that she was a seasoned intercessor who had been praying for over 20 years. But recently she went to a conference where a person laid hands on her for impartation. Impartation is right!

After that incident, whenever she tried to pray she would see Jesus as her lover and experience a physical orgasm. She had opened herself to a false spiritual experience she did not ask the Lord about first. At the conference she received deliverance from the evil spirit that had seduced her.

It is clear that we must be discerning. Ephesians 5:15-16 tell us to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (NKJV).

Evil or not, these are exciting days in which to live, for spiritual awakenings are being seen throughout the earth. I pray we see one here in the United States! To help bring this about, we must be committed to maintaining our credibility in prayer. Decide now to keep a spiritual eye on what’s going on in the prayer room and be a Spirit-led—not a flaky—woman of prayer.

Alice Smith is co-founder and executive director of the U.S. Prayer Center in Houston. She is also an internationally known conference speaker and  best-selling author. Consider booking Alice for your next prayer conference, leadership training, banquet speaker, retreat leader, etc. Books and other resources by Alice can be found at:  www.PrayerBookstore.com

Many leaders are coming to a solemn consensus: Today every praying saint and every prayer movement must focus on two strategic needs facing the Church in our generation: the Crisis of Christology among God’s people; and the need for a re-awakening of believers to the supremacy of Christ for all He is. This must become our overriding passions as we seek God’s face together.

As many of you know, I've written extensively on both of these top prayer agendas in Christ is ALL! (www.ChristIsAllBook.com). Currently, I’m exploring both in-depth with gatherings of leaders across the country in our dynamic, comprehensive 48-hour intensives called The Christ Institutes (www.ProclaimHope.org).

Both passions surface recently in my morning devotions. I was meditating on Luke 19. Suddenly the two themes – the crisis and the Christ -- jumped out at me. I noted that these were the same two challenges Jesus faced on the day He rode into Jerusalem for the last time.

Therefore, I offer you my reflections from that morning, with this singular question: Is there anything here that should shape the primary concerns for which you and I pray in this hour?  Is there any sense in which the “Palm Sunday” drama is repeating itself in our day? If so, how should this guide our individual intercessions and our prayer movements? How should this define our passions as we petition Heaven?

First, however, let me give you key verses from Luke 19 taken from  the New Living Translation (emphasis mine):

 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. ³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen: ³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” ⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

⁴¹ But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”

How, here’s what I saw:

1) The Crisis of Christology -- Even Jesus could not help himself; he had to weep – weep! -- when faced with the reality that, despite the cheers of the crowd a few hours earlier, the crisis among God's people -- the crisis of their exploiting Him, diminishing Him and dismissing Him -- was so pervasive that they already were blinded to the "opportunity" God was offering to them in His Son at that very moment, They were oblivious to how in His very presence among them as their King He was ready to bring their city, Jerusalem, into the everlasting shalom (peace) God had promised them.

His weeping was over all they would forfeit of all the riches they could have experienced in Him. It was available to them as He stood in their midst, as He rode among them offering Himself as their long-expected King. But they missed it – they missed Him.

Jesus was not weeping in self-pity -- quite the opposite: He wept because He saw the consequences for them. He knew, because of how they misunderstood what His glorious supremacy was all about, God's purposes for that generation of "covenant people" would be crushed for a season, and the whole city would disintegrate as a result. (This represents another possible, but far less desirable, form of "city transformation", which we talk and pray about so often today.)

He was the only person on planet earth that day that "got it", the only one that recognized the marvelous moment right in front of God’s people.  It was the "time of God's visitation" (NIV in vs. 44) to fulfill for them all God desired for them, now awaiting them in front of them in His dear Son who stood before them.  But they could not see Him for who He really was (and is). It was as if He was invisible to them. And it broke His heart.

I wonder: Do we need to join with our Lord Jesus in His kind of broken-heartedness over the blindness of God’s people to the fullness of God’s Son? Is the real King Jesus “invisible” to much of the Church? Is there reason to be concerned about a critical shortfall in the Christology of Christians in our generation – a shortfall that could rob of us the very work of God in us and through us we so desperately need?  Could the confronting and curing of this crisis open the floodgates for an outpouring of answers to so many of our other prayers – concerted prayers for decades for renewal and revival, for our communities and cities, for our nation and the nations?

2) The Christ to be exalted -- Those familiar words about stones "bursting into cheers" (NLT) struck me afresh as I reflected on them. What I perceived Jesus claimed about Himself, using this anthropomorphic image, is this:

The entire creation is wired to give Christ the supremacy in everything (Colossians 1:18). Not only is creation groaning to be delivered from decay into the resurrection liberation that is the destination in God’s Son of God's children (Romans 8); but it also is poised, eager, determined and even commissioned to secure His praises, one way or another, both now and even more in the Consummation.

And if necessary, according to Jesus, even before the End, hardened, brittle, lifeless rocks (without an ounce of breath in them) are prepared to become animated sufficiently to celebrate His reign, spread His fame and proclaim His name for ALL He is.  Even shale testifies He is worthy of this and no less.

Obviously, initially Jesus meant this demonstration of granite gratitude metaphorically. Yet, I wonder:

Behind his words is there not an poignant prognosis: Because, Scripture is clear that a day is coming when God's Son will be given His rightful place in the universe, by the universe and from all created things that inhabit the universe -- even if, at this moment, multitudes, especially of God's people, fail to do so, just as they were oblivious to the real Jesus when He spoke these words.

May I suggest something? I am increasingly convinced that our labors today as pray-ers and prayer mobilizers must include the role of becoming “Christ proclaimers” (what I often call “Messengers of  Hope”). Not only do we need to intercede for the revitalization of the Church, but, at the same time, we need to impress upon fellow believers the overriding, preeminent agenda for our life together -- the "exalting of Christ and His supremacy in all things and at all times". 

This is not a fool's errand. Rather, we are joining forces with an unending symphony of His praises already ascending from rocks and stars -- from saints and angels -- in Heaven as it will one day be on earth. We collaborate with all of them every time we lift Jesus higher -- especially and primarily when we do so among those who claim Him as Lord (as well as with those who do not).

In doing so, we prepare the way for the fullest answers to all of our other prayers; even as we lay the foundation for a sustainable, transformational revival that is nothing less than the “Christ Awakening” which our generation desperately needs. (Consider Isaiah 40:1-11)

If rocks are ready to explode with tributes for ALL Jesus is (and He says they are!), how can we who know Him and love Him and serve Him remain mute any longer?  In His case, silence is not golden!

In our intercessions and in our conversations – both -- we must address the crisis of Christology and we must declare the supremacy of the Christ. Paul set the example for us:  "Christ we proclaim...to this end I strive with all the energy He powerfully works within me." (Colossians 1: 28-29).  May it be so for each of us: by prayer and by proclamation. It will turn weeping into wonder!

© 2013, www.ProclaimHope.org

I read recently an estimate of how many people are reading books on prayer these days and I wondered how many of these readers were actually praying.  With amazon.com listing 48,000 books on Christian prayer for sale, there is no shortage of reading material, and new books are being published daily. Certainly writing and reading on the subject is needed and valuable, but praying is crucial. There are a few folks who would read a book just out of curiosity, or strictly for information purposes, but most read books to learn and live. The disciples’ request of Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1) did not ask to be taught “how” to pray, indicating they already knew how.  What they desired was to actually practice prayer like Jesus did. So, keep reading and learning about prayer, but don’t forget to pray. Paul E. Billheimer, author of the classic book on prayer, Destined for the Throne, wrote, “Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying.”  Beloved, let us pray!

Read more from Dr. Dan's Monday Morning Manna at http://discipleallnations.org/blog.

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http://discipleallnations.org/blog.

Alice and Eddie

P.S. Will you join us in ministry. Your investment today will bear kingdom interest tomorrow!

Or mail checks payable to:         U.S. Prayer Center         7710-T Cherry Park Dr         Suite 224         Houston, Texas 77095 Phone donations via credit card, toll free, Mon-Thu, 9-5 Central 800-569-4825

WayMakers would like to commend this very timely prayer guide called 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. As you may know, Muslims observe a 30-day period of fasting, prayer and seeking God every year that they call "Ramadan." This is an ideal time to pray for God's purposes of love to be fulfilled in their lives and families. This year Ramadan falls on July 9 to August 7, 2013. An international movement of intercession for the Muslim world has prepared this marvelous prayer guide. Because it is translated in more than 20 languages, there will be Christians from all over the world praying for Muslims.

The turbulence of today’s world may be slowly hardening the hearts of some Christians against the Muslim world. Bible trusting Christians are among those most likely to pray for Muslim neighbors and nations. I urge you to get your personal copy soon. As you look through the guide, think of other friends who you will want to invite to join with you. Order copies for them. Think of involving your church in this special time.

This full-color, illustrated prayer guide is a proven tool to help Christians pray with informed wisdom and hope for Muslim neighbors across the street, and Muslim people around the world. Each day focuses on a specific issue or area of the Islamic world. As you read through it and pray, you’ll gain a better understanding of Muslims and find your hope increase for God’s purpose among all peoples. A special “Just for Kids” edition is also available.

Check out a few sample pages and order this 56-page guide at www.waymakers.org/pray/30-days/#sample-pages. WayMakers has made it easy to order from our website or by phone. The cost begins at $3 for a single copy ($3.50 for kids) with discounts as great as 60% when ordered in quantity. Check out the details online at www.waymakers.org/pray/30-days or call me at 512.419.7729.

It's interesting and encouraging that many of our churches are waking up to the fact that even Christ followers in our ranks are still sinning big time. For years studies by Barna and others have been telling us that church people aren't at least statistically that different morally from those not in the church.

But unfortunately the truth is being realized and we're having to admit the studies were right. Christians struggle with porn, kids who sext with each other, get divorced, have affairs and cheat on their taxes just to name a few things.  It's not that God isn't at work, lives aren't being changed or that there aren't some really miraculous things taking place but we're still a mess.

So naturally and thankfully many churches are being called to pray for their church, city and country, that God would do a great work and change people.  The problem is that too often we are only praying for the symptoms not the real problem.

We pray that our people would quit having affairs and getting divorced. We pray that our young people would reject the habits of their friends online and not send dirty pictures to one another. We pray for people to come to our churches and lay aside their distractions. And we should want those things and more.

But if that is all we pray for we've missed the boat.  We'll be like the surgeon who removed the cancerous spots on the patient's skin but didn't consider the tumor or disease elsewhere in the body. There is a deeper root.

Jeremiah 2:13 is probably familiar to most of us but it is a key passage for understanding the underlying issues.  My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

We must pray people to go back to God (Jesus) for their water, for what really gives them life and meaning and purpose.  We must help them see the broken cisterns in their life that culture and our selfishness have drawn us to for our worth, satisfaction and fulfillment.

We have started to worship our kids and their needs so we let them get away with too much, quit parenting and look the other way. We worship comfort and happiness so we spend much of our time earning more, getting more and storing up more, too exhausted to consider doing anything for God.

And when our spouse feels the same way we have no time for them and them for us. But someone out there will have time when we're most vulnerable and we need to dull our pain.

We must pray for Christians, starting with us, to re-visit our first love, Jesus. Ask God to help us put Him first and to lay aside our leaky buckets, to exchange again our idols for the glory and pleasure of God. We must not dress the wound of the people as though it were not serious. (Jeremiah 6:14)  We must pray for people to tell it like it is and not settle for superficial change. 

And if we do, then God will truly heal us, our churches, our communities and our land. Change will be real and lasting. Why would we want anything less?

We live in dangerous, deceptive times, when it has never been more important to be like the sons of Issachar, “who understood the times” and knew what God’s people should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). In recent decades, many Christians have been hoodwinked by smooth-talking, emotion-stirring politicians and philosophies. Too often, we’ve allowed feel-good rhetoric, Santa Claus handouts, or demonization of opponents to twist reality and sway us from biblical values.

I’m old enough to remember the old “To Tell the Truth” TV program, where three mystery guests claimed to be a certain person, and the four celebrity panelists had to guess which one of them was telling the truth about their identity. Each segment of the program culminated with the host saying, “Only one of these is the real ______, and the others are imposters. Will the real _____ please stand up!”

Matthew 27 tells a story remarkably similar to an episode of “To Tell the Truth.” Two men stood before the Roman governor (Pontius Pilate) and a large crowd of people. Both of these men were revolutionaries, but they advocated two very different kinds of revolution. Both were radical in their approach, but in completely different ways.

Pilate made it clear that only one of these men could be chosen: “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” (v. 17) The people had to carefully evaluate the claims of these two revolutionaries before making their all-important decision.

According to many early manuscripts, the full name of the first man was Jesus Barabbas. Jesus meant “savior,” and Barabbas meant “son of the father” (Bar = Son, Abbas = Father). This man was widely known as an insurrectionist who had participated in a recent uprising against the Roman authorities (Mark 15:7).

The message of Barabbas was clear: “You all could have a great life if it weren’t for the Romans. They’ve victimized and oppressed you, making it impossible to be happy and productive. Let me come to your aid and get rid of the ‘bad guys’ who’ve ripped you off and done you wrong.”

And, no doubt, there was a grain of truth in Barabbas’ case, just as there have always been elements of truth in the manipulative arguments of political demagogues throughout the centuries. However, the cure he promised didn’t address the more fundamental cause of people’s misery.

Standing next to Barabbas that day was a very different kind of revolutionary, though there were some intriguing parallels between the men. This radical young leader from Nazareth was also named Jesus, and his followers considered him the Savior. And just as the name Barabbas meant “son of the father,” this other Jesus was known by many as the son of Father God. Ultimately he was referred to as Jesus the Christ, or Messiah.

Jesus had some fair-weather followers who probably weren’t much different from the followers of Barabbas. They saw his miracles and hoped he would liberate them from Roman oppression and restore the independent Jewish nation. Mostly likely, this was their misguided motivation in shouting “Hosanna” (save now!) when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey a few days earlier.  

However, the message of this Jesus was much different than Jesus Barabbas. Instead of promising political solutions—salvation from the outside—he told his followers they must repent and receive God’s kingdom on the inside. Rather than allowing his disciples to pity themselves and feel like victims, he challenged them to take the “logs” out of their own eyes and deal with any sin or selfishness that was preventing them from receiving true freedom and abundance.

The unfolding scene in Matthew 27 was almost unbelievable. Which “Jesus”—which savior—would the people choose: Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ? Would they opt for a political solution that let them off the hook in dealing with their own sinfulness and disobedience? Or would they embrace Jesus’ promise of a new heart and a transformed life?

You see, two different gospels were presented by these two men. Both claimed to offer “good news” to those who would follow their pathway. Barabbas promised a better life once the Romans were defeated, while Jesus promised new life in a spiritual kingdom that transcended politics and earthly kingdoms.

To Pilate’s shock, the people overwhelmingly voted for Barabbas and were content to send Jesus to crucifixion. How could this be? Were they simply deceived, lured by Barabbas’ promise of sweet revenge against their oppressors? Were they paid off by the jealous religious leaders, who saw Jesus as a threat to their grip on people’s lives? Or was the problem that most of Jesus’ fans and followers simply failed to show up—or speak up—on that fateful day?

Today America faces an eerily similar moment of decision. As in the days of Barabbas and Jesus, we face enormous economic and social challenges, causing many people to feel desperate for relief. If we are seduced by the promises of Barabbas, we will seek political saviors and opt for government solutions to our woes. We will listen to the alluring siren call of those who stoke the flames of victimhood and demonize opponents with a “divide and conquer” strategy.

In contrast, the pathway prescribed by Jesus seems much more costly and difficult. It beckons us to lay down our lives and trust God to meet our needs. Instead of permitting us to play the blame game, it points us to the ancient remedy prescribed in 2 Chronicles 7:14: We must humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our own wicked ways. Then, and only then, does the Lord promise to forgive our national sins and heal our land.

It’s time to repent of any tendency to cast our nation’s leaders in the role of our savior or source. There’s only ONE true Savior and Source, and those who put their hope in Him will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11). Every human substitute is just an imposter and counterfeit, shifting sand that will ultimately replace our soaring hopes with deep disappointment.

A Prayer for Pope Francis

Lord, make him an instrument of Your peace.
A shepherd to the lost and least.
A pontiff to the poor and rich,
a pastor to the world.

Where hatred rears its ugly head
may he respond with love instead.
And may he model pardoning
when there is injury.

Where faith’s weak flame is nearly out,
help him discern the source of doubt
and offer hope to those who can’t
because of their despair.

Where darkness reigns both day and night,
help Francis to reflect the Light
who came into our sinful world
that we might see the way.

Where sadness dominates the heart
equip this pope to do his part
and demonstrate the joy of Christ
through actions, words and smiles.

by Greg Asimakoupoulos

This week I would like to share an excellent Easter idea I found on iMOM.com. Children love to hunt for Easter eggs. In this egg-citing game your kids can hunt for eggs over and over again without ever being at risk for a cavity from too much candy. Instead of candy they will actually learn the Easter story.

1. Before you begin make sure you print off both the Easter Story and the Easter Puzzle.
2. Cut out the puzzle pieces by cutting along the dotted lines of the puzzle page.
3. Place each puzzle piece in a plastic colored egg. You will need 15 eggs.
4. Hide the 15 eggs.
5. Let the children hunt for the eggs.
6. When all 15 have been found have the children open their eggs and take out the puzzle pieces.
7. Begin the story by asking who has the donkey. Place the donkey puzzle piece on a table so everyone can see it. Then read the passage that correlates to the donkey puzzle piece.
8. Continue by asking for the next puzzle piece, the palm branch. Add that piece to the donkey and read the correlating passage. Continue through the story adding to the puzzle as you go until the puzzle is complete.

To download puzzle pieces to to http://www.imom.com/downloads/color-pdf/imom_easter_egg_hunt_puzzle_color.pdf

To download Easter story go to Download Color PDF | Download Black & White PDF

Go to http://www.imom.com/tools/ to check out their website for inspiration, more ideas, information, and insight you will find profitable.

Revitalize your church's prayer ministry, using NDP as a jumping off point

What a gift!

Every first Thursday of May, your congregation has an opportunity to join the Church across America in praying for our nation … and in so doing, revitalize your prayer ministry at the same time.  The observance of the National Day of Prayeris the perfect time for a spring-cleaning of your approach to prayer and praying. No better time to review and revise the systems, structures, and strategies.

“Every church prays, but not every church is a praying church.”  

Ask every member of your congregation, young children to senior saints, to establish a personal plan to participate on May 3^rd

·      Prayerwalk their street, praying for neighbors

·      Devote all or part of their lunchbreak to praying for our nation’s leaders

·      Pray for our President and other leaders at the evening meal

·      Attend a community-wide prayer breakfast or concert of prayer 

·      Spend 15 minutes in the prayer room (or a designated prayer location) in the church facility

·      Write a letter to a local or national leader and indicate you have taken time to pray for her or him

Challenge each class and committee, fellowship group and ministry team t prayerfully discern a plan for National Day of Prayer

• Prayerwalk together a section of town near city hall
• Gather at the church for a 30 minute prayer meeting
• Meet early for breakfast and prayer before going to work
• Attend together a community-wide prayer event

After the National Day of prayer, announce a planning session for every leader in the church (deacons, Awana, Sunday classes, music, etc.). Begin with a bathed in prayer assessment of the state of prayer in your congregation. Invite core leaders to participate in an honest discussion of the vitality of praying in each of the church’s ministries and for each of the congregation’s activities. Use a tool, such as Article #062   Diagnostic Tool To Assess The Prayer Life Of A Congregation.  http://nppn.org/Articles/Article062.htm

A praying church not only invites everyone to the place of prayer (usually a weeknight prayer meeting) but also takes prayer to the places where everyone already connect.  Invite members to experience a fresh approach to corporate prayer, one that emphasizes Spirit-led participation, praying scripture, and praying for names and needs and neighborhoods … SO THAT the answers to each of our prayers results in a greater revelation of the glory of God (John 17:1-5).

Lastly, provide practical, biblical training through an experiential workshop, so that, prayer is no longer limited to the 60 seconds of a Sunday morning pastoral prayer or the often mechanical opening and closing prayer of a meeting.

May this National Day of Prayer see a release of the Holy Spirit’s fresh wind and fresh fire of prayer that stirs revival among believers and awakening in our communities.

How many times have we heard that Jesus prayed early in the morning and thus we ought to do the same? Granted, early morning prayer is both needed and valuable. But what if I am not a morning person? What if I wake up slow and don’t think very well until a few cups of caffeine? What if I am a night person? Good news. God hears and responds to prayer in the evening as well as in the morning. The Psalmist said, “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8). Jesus, Himself, often prayed at night, even on one occasion, He prayed all night — “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Nighttime praying is a good time to reflect on the activities of the day, thank God for specifics, praise God for who He revealed Himself to be that day, ask forgiveness for that day’s short-comings, and intercede for those who serve God on the other side of the globe where it is day. So, morning prayer or night prayer? It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.

Dr. Dan's Monday Morning Manna, is posted every Monday morning at http://discipleallnations.org/blog. You can subscribe to this blog and receive it free via E-mail.  Simply click on “subscribe” and follow the instructions.

Paul was not threatened by the prospect of working himself out of a job by training others—in fact, he saw this as the very goal of his life and ministry. Not only did he raise up Timothy and Titus for ministry, but a careful reading of his letters and the book of Acts indicates Paul had equipped a large number of leaders for ministry (for example, see Acts 20:4 and 2 Timothy 4:9-21). Many of these were a part of his apostolic team.

Success Without a Successor

Tragically, many of the otherwise great men and women of God throughout history failed at this key element of effective leadership. They were gifted theologians, but other theologians were not trained. They were successful pastors, but no one was equipped to take their place. They mightily preached the gospel, but no one of similar caliber was left after their death.

Many years ago, I was sharing the “train your replacement” principle at a leadership conference in England. Although I thought I had given an effective presentation, the man who had organized the conference seemed to publicly rebuke me when I was done. “I’m not ready to retire yet!” he retorted. How sad. He had entirely missed the point. By training his replacements, he wouldn’t have to retire at all: God could have promoted him to a level of even greater influence.

Let us learn the lesson well: Success without a successor is really failure. Because of this, some churches that seem to be flourishing are actually in a very precarious position: Too much of their success is built around the gifts and charismatic personality of one dynamic leader.

What about you? Are you pouring your life into others and training them to do the things you’re presently doing? Are you willing to train your replacement?

One of the most familiar “group prayer” questions is, “Would you lead us in prayer?”  Everyone knows what it means.  But if we are going to be most effective in facilitating corporate prayer, we will want to broaden the meaning of this very familiar question. Here is what I wrote in United and Ignited.

 I have the privilege of sharing at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon a few times per year on the topic of dynamic corporate prayer.  One day as I was concluding 4 hours of “show and tell” on the topic, I glanced at the clock and realized I had just about one minute to sum up all I wanted them to catch. 

Here is what I said: 

I think I can say nearly everything I want you to walk away with in less than one minute.  My hope is that because of our time together today the meaning of the question “Would you lead us in prayer?” has been enlarged.  From: “Bill, would you lead us in prayer?”  And Bill stands, speaks, we listen, he says amen, and he has led us in prayer.  To: “Bill, would you lead us in prayer?”  And Bill says, “Sure, I would be happy to lead us in prayer.  I have been thinking about Psalm 90:14 (or a host of other verses or topics) which says, ‘Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love…’  Let’s close (or open) our time in prayer today by considering the things about God that deeply satisfy us.  I will give you a moment to consider what you would like to say, then I will start, and let’s have about 5 or 6 others of you follow right after me…”  Then after Bill pauses for 10-15 seconds, he prays, “Father, Your grace deeply satisfies me.”  Then, someone else might say, “Father, the blood of Your Son deeply satisfied You and it deeply satisfies me.”  Or “Father, being part of Your Body has satisfied my deep need to belong.” Perhaps others would mention, His peace, His mercy, His joy, or His calling, etc. 

     The specifics of the illustration should change from setting to setting, but I think you get the picture.  Leading a group in prayer can (and in most settings I would say should) include giving many people in the group an opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the prayer.  It does not have to take any longer than if just one person prayed.  Your leadership, your prayer direction, brings the opportunity for the group to pray in the power of unity.

When we ask someone to lead us in worship, we don’t expect a solo, we expect him or her to do that which will help us express our hearts to the Lord.  Why should it be different when we ask someone to lead us in prayer?  Why not anticipate that the person who leads us in prayer would actually help us all pray rather than just pray on our behalf?

“How are you doing today?” That’s the question I’ve often asked people over the years.

But I’ve concluded that this is probably the wrong question. I’m thinking of trying out a new query for the people I encounter:

“How’s your TRAJECTORY today?”

This is a much better question, isn’t it? Although I hope you’re having a good day, it’s much more important that the overall trajectory of your life is upward.

Perhaps your finances aren’t great today, but hopefully they are better than they used to be. You may not be in perfect health, but I pray you’re keeping those New Year’s Resolutions to make your health better than last year.

And the real question about your marriage or your relationships with your kids is not how they’re doing right now. Instead, the question is whether you are sowing positive seeds today for a better trajectory tomorrow. 

How long has it been since you’ve applied the trajectory question to the various facets of your life? Maybe it’s time to ask whether your employer’s cash flow is on a sustainable path. Or perhaps you have to face the question of whether your church is on an upward trajectory, stuck on a plateau, or declining—with everyone just getting old and dying off.

Trajectory is a Biblical concept, after all. The pathway of a righteous person is supposed to shine “ever brighter” (Proverbs 4:18). As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, our spiritual trajectory should be a transformation from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). And since our destiny is to become like Jesus, we should show evidence of becoming more like Him every day (Romans 8:29, 1 John 3:2-3, 2 Peter 1:5-8).

Perhaps you’ve experienced times of failure in the past, but you can’t allow that to determine your trajectory today. And no matter how things are going at the moment, remember that you are called “UPWARD” (Philippians 3:13-14).

If you’re not happy with your life’s trajectory today, there’s good news. We serve the God of resurrection and new beginnings. He can take a tailspin and turn it around.

But the trajectory question is a reality check. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. 

Dear praying friends,

Have you taken a look at Seek God for the City 2013? What do you think? The days of united prayer begin this Wednesday, February 13 and continue through Palm Sunday, March 24.

Would you consider suggesting this great resource to your blog, network, or list of friends? Now is a perfect time to download the app and get ready to pray with many thousands of others.

http://www.waymakers.org/app

In hope,

Steve Hawthorne

Friends,
 
I want to pass on to you some of what I've been hearing from others. Even in the midst of reports in the continuing decline of morals or the disarray of some mission conviction, I've been encouraged to hear from several leaders who are sensing that Christians are responding positively, even eagerly, to their appeals to pray for their community and their country. There is increasing disbelief that quick political fixes or economic upturns will ever be able to change our trajectory very easily. Perhaps that very pessimism is turning Christians, with a kind of holy desperation, to pray.
 
I think it's wise in these days to be calling fellow believers to turn pessimism to passionate hope by praying together with scripture. One leader used these words to call others to unite their prayers in hope: "Pray greater!"
 
Of course, I think the tool Seek God for the City 2013 will prove helpful to many to lift and focus their prayers. Whether or not you use Seek God for the City, please find some way to urge others to pray with confidence that Christ will advance and fulfill His long-standing purposes.
 
Yours in hope,
 
Steve Hawthorne
Director
 
PS: It's not too late to get copies in time for the beginning of the 40 days. If you call our office (800-264-5214) or order online (www.waymakers.org) by midday next Monday (February 4), we can still get copies to most places in the USA using standard shipping.
 
PPS: The app format enhances the experience for those with the booklet and involves many others who prefer to pray with their mobile device. Check out the app for smartphones or tablets at www.waymakers.org/app