Pray Network Forum

In this post from National Network of Youth Ministries, Kristi DeVito shares how important it is to find time for silence in this loud world.

God loves having relationship with me! But I miss God’s attempts to capture my attention. My life is so busy and noisy that I hardly notice God’s constant presence.

Henri Nouwen said, “There was a time when silence was normal and a lot of racket disturbed us. But today noise is the normal fare, and silence, strange as it may seem,silence has become the real disturbance.”

In my own Christian journey the need for silence and solitude has seldom been spoken of or practiced. Much of my training and experience has been about working hard and accomplishing things for God.

Working hard is good. But I didn’t realize that all of this doing is much more rewarding when it flows from my being – that place inside where God loves and lives in me, and I love and live in God…Jesus calls that abiding.

Often I’ve been impressed with the Psalmist’s words: “Be still and know that I am God.”In recent years I’m embracing the practice of “stillness” or silence. In the beginning, and sometimes still, it feels awkward; I wonder if I’m doing “it” correctly. My mind may be everywhere, and it can even feel like a waste of time. But God continues to draw me to silence, and I’m feeling more and more comfortable being still in God’s presence.

So what is silence? I’m learning that it is one of the ways I create space in my life to pay attention to God. God is always paying attention to us; always present to us. It is we who are seldom attentive and present to God. So as I create space for silence, I’m providing myself with the opportunity to listen to God;and listening is necessary for growth and love in any relationship.

Why is silence important? The Bible encourages us to embrace solitude and silence (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 30:15; Exodus 14:14). Jesus took time for silence (Luke 4:42; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12).

From early Christian history, men and women of God have observed silence as an integral part of their daily lives. Dallas Willard writes, “Of all the disciplines of abstinence, solitude is generally the most fundamental in the beginning of the spiritual life and must be returned to again and again as that life develops.” Even as I write this, I’m still amazed at how little I have seen this practiced throughout my years of following Jesus.

What role can silence play in your life? Larry Warner says, “God desires to communicate His love, grace, peace and very self to us, but sometimes we move too fast and live with too much noise to receive them. In silence and solitude we slow down, extend our open, empty hands of faith and ready ourselves to receive from God whatever God may have for us.”

I like that; especially the last phrase, “receive from God whatever God may have for us.” That says to me that there is nothing manipulative or magical about silence. God’s presence to us is always a gift. We can only provide the opportunity to pay attention, listen and receive.

In my practice of silence and solitude I have run across some helpful suggestions to encourage me along the journey. I hope you will find these encouraging, too.

Suggestions for those who are new to silence…from Larry Warner

• Let the time be a gift to you with no expectations. God is with you even if you do not “feel” like God is with you. Scripture is clear that there is no place where God is not present. So even if you do not “feel” God’s presence, to the extent that you are able, settle into and rest in God and in God’s presence.
• Offer yourself to God just as you are in this moment. Actually, that is all you can do. One of the most common mistakes is to think we must somehow be different or have a different history or have in some way cleaned ourselves up a bit before we can come to God. None of this is true. The very best you can do is to offer yourself to God right now just as you are. Now of course, God is not going to leave you as you are. Rather, God is going to help you become the magnificent child of God you were always meant to become. In truth, this is what we most desire.

More suggestions…from Karen Cooper

How do I begin to practice silence and/or being alone?

• Start small and build.
• Take advantage of available space for silence in your daily routine (i.e. walking/jogging, showering, driving, etc.).

What do I do once I get alone?

• Invite God’s presence and end with gratitude.
• Practice silence.
• Notice, notice, notice.
• Have conversations with God.
• Write in my journal.
• Sleep if I’m tired.
• Be emotional.
• Have fun.

What do I do when my mind won’t stay focused?

• Don’t fight mental distractions – this will make it worse!
• Jot things to do later on a piece of paper.
• Express or write your anxieties, emotions, fears to God in a journal.
• Return to prayer when I have released my distractions.
• Dealing with troublesome thoughts in prayer:
  • Don’t be discouraged or even shocked at my thoughts. God knew them before me and is not surprised.
  • If sin is revealed, confess it, allowing God time to show me its source.
  • Return quickly to God, thanking Him for His presence and love and rest in Him.
• Declare my helplessness and my desire to be more whole.
• Keep practicing silence… it will get easier.

Mother Teresa wrote, “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we care in our active life. We need silence to touch souls.”

O God, I thank you for experiencing You anew in silence. Help us touch more souls with Your active love.

I’ve been delighted with the magnificent photo on the cover of this year’s Seek God for the City. The beautiful city, bathed in light, with a river running through it, is Calgary, Alberta, if you’re wondering. Several friends have asked. Only a few days ago I had an insight about that image that I’d like to share with you.

As many do around the turn of the year, I was at home pondering the days ahead. On the table beside me was a copy of Seek God for the City 2012. Recently, I’ve been meditating on Psalm 46. Somehow one phrase from the psalm lit up in full color: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.”

Elsewhere in that Psalm there are nations that roar; there are kingdoms that tremble; there are wars and weapons that bring desolation. But in the midst of all the raging chaos, there is a city, unshaken by the noise, sustained with a fearless joy by God Himself. And there is a river that flows, sourced in heaven’s life. But it’s not just one river with a single channel. It has streams, many of them. That gives me hope. Just a little stream of God’s river can bring to life the gladness of hope, the fearlessness of faith and the awesome hush of love.

But it wasn’t just that river with many streams that I saw symbolized on the cover of Seek God for the City, it was the light of morning. Consider these astounding words: “God will help her when morning dawns.” Do you realize that this means that it is not yet the morning? We are even now in the darkest hour before the dawn. God’s presence is steady as a river. But He is coming like a long-awaited dawn. And He will help her (the city is somehow a feminine entity) when that day comes.

Even though the photo depicts a sunset on the city, I was moved by the truth of the coming dawn. How bright the coming of our Lord. How sure His help even now in the day of trouble!

And that was all it took to remind me that amidst all of the other projects and urgencies before me, that I am summoned to pray with the joy of hope. An important part of prayer is knowing what to say. But a greater aspect of prayer is hearing what God is saying. In the midst of the noise of these crazy days, I recognized that God was calling me to hush, to be still, to listen and to know and behold what His works and purpose are all about.

So I’m going to be praying in these days. I want to urge you to do the same. Seek God for the City can be a tool to help you and the people who walk with you to pray with steady uplifted hope. But whether you use this resource or not, let’s pray great things. The river flows. The unshakable city stands steady. And the morning soon dawns.

Yours in hope,

Steve Hawthorne

PS: This year we’ll be releasing Seek God for the City as an app. It’s almost ready. Watch for it in the first days of February. Go to www.waymakers.org/seek-god-for-the-city.html.

In John 13-18, at the last supper, we have an interesting snippet into the life of Jesus. Like a parent who is leaving his child at college for the first time, Jesus covers everything important his “kids” needed to know before leaving them on their own for the first time. In this talk, Jesus reveals something they had never heard before: “Ask in my name.” Pray in my name. It was so important that he comes back to that point three times.

They got it. In Acts four we seek a crippled man healed in the name of Jesus. Throughout Acts they continually call on the name of Jesus. We need to learn what that means to ask and pray in Jesus’ name.

For many of us, however, that phrase has become just a perfunctory tack on, to indicate the end of a prayer. “Okay, my prayer is over,” or “your turn to pray,” are more what it means in a prayer. Most believers—including myself—jump past that important theological truth like it means nothing.

A recent study on the topic in order to preach on it, really impacted me. I was struck by how much I had forgotten what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. While I can’t do justice to all that it means in a blog entry (books could be written on the topic), I hope this stimulus will encourage you to pray with more power and authority.

Praying in Jesus name gives us a level of authority that no other created being in the universe possesses! We have three “types” of authority because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

First we have a legal authority, very much like a business manager has been given by an owner.  Whatever a manager decides is binding, because he was given that authority by the owner. We represent Christ as ambassadors Scripture says. An ambassador acts in the interest of a nation in a foreign nation. God has given us authority to act for Him on earth—to represent Him. When we pray in Jesus’ name, what we ask for needs to be in line with what we know He would do.

Second we have the authority and rights of a child-father relationship. We are co-heirs with Christ. This gives us access to the throne room. But because of who God is, we are given a huge level of authority as His heir. When we pray, we have confidence, because we know who our Father is. The more we know Him, the more we know what He would want to do in a situation—and we can declare that to be done.

Finally, we are in bride-bridegroom relationship, and have all the authority that comes to a bride when she gets married. When a couple joins, everything the one has now also belongs to the other. Everything Christ has is ours! But we also have to recognize that everything we have belongs to Him. That speaks of huge surrender. When this comes to prayer, it means that it can no longer be what I want . . . but what we want. I can only pray what is in synch with what my bridegroom also wants. That speaks of intimacy.

So the next time you tack on “in Jesus’ name, Amen” on to the end of your prayer, consider what it implies. Better yet, it might be good to think of that even before you pray! Maybe it will change  how you pray.

Jon Graf is the publisher of Prayer Connectand the president of the Church Prayer Leaders Network.

After the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they immediately ran to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby was lying in a manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel said about the baby. The people who heard their story were astonished.

The shepherds returned to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God. However, Mary quietly treasured all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Later some wise men from the East guided by a star came to their house fell down before baby Jesus and worshipped him, bringing expensive gifts with them.

Now that the Christmas celebrations are over, the tree must come down, the decorations put away for another year. What is your response to the birth of Jesus Christ?

• Are you glorifying and praising God for sending his Son into the world to save our sins?
• Are you worshipping the Lord and quietly meditating on His Word?
• Pray that your children and grandchildren’s response to the birth of Christ will be one of glorifying and praising God for the new life he provided. 
• Pray they will stand as a symbol of hope in a dark world, adorned with God’s strength and beauty.

 Don’t pack Jesus away with the Christmas ornaments until next Christmas. 

My prayer is that your response is to grow in your spiritual life so you will be able to be an even greater godly influence in the lives of your grandchildren in 2012.    

₁ Taken from Luke 2:15-20 TLB

₂ Matthew 2:11

I Corinthians 13 -- Christmas Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Be Mindful That Happiness Is Not Based On Possessions, Power, or Prestige, But On Christ And Relationships With People You Love And Respect

 -- original source unknown (submitted by C. Neal Davis, Ph.D., ACFRE (12/22/11)

True Meaning of Christmas … “Tell the Children!”

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor.  I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house.  I opened the door to the front room and, to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.  He placed a finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask.  The words choked up in my throat, as I saw he had tears in his eyes.  His usual jolly manner was gone.  Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement, "TEACH THE CHILDREN."  I was puzzled; what did he mean?

He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.  As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the meaning of Christmas.  The meaning that children now-a-day's have forgotten!"

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year around, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind.  All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.  "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.  God promised a savior for the world, and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise."

He then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.  "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaced the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love.  Real love never ceases.  Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.  "Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

     -- original source unknown; submitted by C. Neal Davis, Ph.D., ACFRE (12/22/11) nealpatdavis@hotmail.com

He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF.  "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality.  It represents the Crown of Thorns worn by our Savior.  The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him."

            Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ..."  "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.  Teach the children that the Wise Men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  We should always give gifts in the same spirit as the Wise Men."

Santa reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree.  "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds crook.  The crook on the shepherd's staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock.  The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brothers keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.  "Teach the children that it was the Angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth.  The angels sang Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace, and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, from his bag he pulled out a BELL.  "Teach the children that the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should bring man to the fold.  The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes.  He said, "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas, and to not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the ONE That Is, and I bow down and worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD.

One of my prayers this Christmas revolves around a word, actually two words. These two words make all the difference in how Christmas is observed.  For many people, Christmas is an event – by definition, an observable occurrence, a gathering.  It is an event marked by parties, gifts, parades, decorations, family gatherings, etc.  While these event-related activities are often involved, Christmas for others is an advent. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival.  Christians celebrate Christmas as the arrival of the Christ-child, the world’s Savior and Lord. While the actual date for the physical arrival of Jesus is debatable, the observance of that birth is at Christmas time.  The Latin word, adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, which appears twenty-four times in the New Testament, seventeen of which are used in reference to the second coming of Christ, as when the disciples asked Jesus for a sign of His second coming in Matthew 24:3. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the first coming of Jesus, His physical birth, as well as Christ's return from Heaven. How you celebrate Christ’s second coming, depends largely on how you celebrate His first coming – event or advent. So, for the sake of your preparation for the second coming of the Lord, I pray that you celebrate His first coming as an advent, not simply as an event.

This paragraph is a part of Dr. Dan’s Monday Morning Memo, a one paragraph, spiritual jump-start sent free of charge via E-mail every Monday morning.  To see more samples and possibly join the subscription list, go to www.discipleallnations.org.

 Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census had to be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone had to go to his or her own town to register. So Joseph and Mary made the difficult journey to Bethlehem even though she was about to have her child.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the innkeeper told them there was no room in the village inn for them. However, the innkeeper noticed that Mary was about to have a child. He had the stable boy take them to the stable, a warmer place for them to spend the night rather than on the street.

As I was pondering the response of the innkeeper, I was thinking about my response to Jesus during the busyness of this Christmas season. Do I spend time in God’s presence each day, as I go about my preparations for the Christmas season? Do I make room in my life to spend time in His presence or is my life filled with the busyness of the season? He desires to stretch our time, to help us with our decorating, baking, gift buying, dinners, etc if we ask him. It is through the sacrifice of our precious time, making room in our life for God, that we will find fulfillment because He designed us to need Him.

Just as the village innkeeper missed having Jesus born in his inn, what are you missing by hanging out your “No Vacancy” sign because you are too busy to take the time to be with Jesus? Make room in your life for Jesus this Christmas.

Merry Christmas

By Lillian Penner

Joy is such a small little word, but it is an amazing word - the dictionary describes it this way: It is an emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness or felicity. Other words to describe joy include delight, gaiety, bliss - the word joy is derived from the Latin word gaudia which is akin to the Greek word to rejoice.

As I ponder the word joy this third week of Advent, it seems that all those definitions fit with the plans that God had when He sent Jesus to earth. The life, death and resurrection of Christ has evoked in believers a sense of well-being; God himself must have experienced great joy when Christ agreed to come and live among mankind and willingly die for the sins of the world because reconciliation was what He had desired for mankind and we have great joy and can rejoice because of the great love that God has shown us in making a way for us to inherit eternal life. 

The birth of Christ is cause for rejoicing - it should give us a sense of complete joy.

The Bible is full of joy from the beginning to the end. In the Old Testament the Israelites would often shout for joy, sing with joy and hold joyful celebrations - the angels have been known to shout for joy and bring news of great joy, even the unborn can leap for joy and the trees of the field can sing for joy.

God can fill us with joy, clothe us with joy, anoint us with the oil of joy and crown us with everlasting joy. Joy can be found within a city and entire nations can be joyful.

However, just because we have been joyful doesn't mean that we will always stay joyful - the Bible also warns us that joy can come to an end, it can be replaced with panic, it can wither away. 

Is there any hope for us when we lose our joy? Yes, because the Bible also says that joy can be restored - we can bring joy to others and other Christians can be our joy. Joy can also overtake us when we least expect it!

Even trials can produce joy within us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

My mom used to say that happiness was a state of mind, we could choose to be happy no matter what the circumstances in our lives and I believe that we can choose to be joyful no matter what! The Bible tells us to be joyful always - not just when things are going our way, but 24/7. We have a lot to be joyful about, sometimes we just need a reminder.

How to Spend an Hour With the Lord

Bruce Frank Nov 21, 2011

  Recently my husband and I attended a reunion in Branson, MO where we saw the awesome performance of The Miracle of Christmas at the Sight & Sound Theatre. I was impressed by how they displayed the emotions of Mary and Joseph when they were faced with the announcements of Gabriel.

While the Jewish nation was waiting for God to free them from living in Roman bondage God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary, “You are highly favored! The Lord is with you . . . You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…” Since she was, a Virgin Mary was greatly troubled and questionedthe angel. Gabriel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. . . For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary recognized God’s voice and answered, “I am your servant, and may it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Joseph, Mary’s fiancée was troubledwhen he learned Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. He did not want to expose her to public disgrace so he had in mind to divorce her quietly. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (bondage).” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel commanded him and took Mary home as his wife but had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named the son Jesus.   

 Even though Mary and Joseph questioned the angel, they recognized the voice of God and submittedto his agenda, not knowing what it would mean for them and their people at the time.

 Pray for your grandchildren to live so close to God that when He speaks to them they will recognize his voice, listen to Him, follow Him in obedience, and trusting Him, as Mary and Joseph did. They were greatly troubled, however, they recognized the voice of God that the angel Gabriel delivered, and they obeyed. Mary had the honor of giving birth to Jesus, the long awaited Messiah fulfilling what the Lord had said through the prophet Isaiah.

May God bless you richly as you prepare for the Christmas season

as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

By Lillian Penner

National Prayer Coordinator

Christian Grandparenting Network

 Christmas Gift Suggestion

Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your grandchildren would make an excellent Christmas gift for your friends who are grandparents.

In celebration of the Christmas holiday, I would like to offer you an autographed soft cover copy for $12.00, including shipping and handling. Just go to the “Purchase Now” link and we will send your shipment. 

. . . Highway 501 is my unappreciated friend.

Our youngest daughter and her husband moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina a bunch of years ago and settled in the Carolina Forest area--a huge section of dozens of new developments and golf courses. City fathers thought of everything, except quick access to the main road that brings tourist from all over North America in their cars and vans and trucks and sightseeing buses. The access in question is state highway 501.

Making a left turn from Carolina Forest Drive onto this always busy highway can be a breeze (on the rare occurrence when your timing is impeccable) or a long day's journey into night (when, like me most of the time, you are two seconds too late!). Since Carolina Forest Boulevard has considerably less traffic than the highway leading into fun-in-the-sun Myrtle Beach, our green light time is considerably less than those high speed travelers on the 501. To miss that left turn, means a wait that seems just this side of forever. And, most of those times, I spend those minutes fuming, stewing, complaining, searching the radio dial--in other words, wasting my time.

Where is your "Oh no, I just missed the green arrow!" intersection? Somewhere on the way to work, or on the route to school, or running errands to Target or Kroger/Albertsons or WalMart? Maybe on the way to church! 

I've begun to think about my wasted time at highway 501 (and so many other unappreciated stop lights) and what could happen if I turned those moments into prayer. Prayers of praise (what's to complain about, I'm alive and well and with family), protection (travel should always remind me of God's moment-by-moment protection), provision (give thanks for something God has graciously given), petition (not a bad time to look around and pray for someone in a nearby vehicle who may have zero Christians praying for them).

Maybe the Spirit will reveal several prayer-stops like this to you. Maybe that special stop should be called "patience corner" (Lord, calm me down about being late getting to my destination), another, "yield lane" (Father, I am struggling with ____ but I yield completely to Your will and the work of Your Spirit in and through me). How about a "Stop!" (disobedience) or an "No U Turn" intersection (don't give up; be persistent).

Next time you find yourself tapping your fingers on the steering wheel counting down the seconds until you get that green light (or arrow), take those moments to commune with the Lord. Prayer leader, when was the last time you prayed for the members of your prayer team? Pastor, is there someone who never quite makes it on your prayer list (possibly your spouse)? What about members of your class or group? Your office or bowling team?

It seems to me . . . that long wait at the highway 501 stop light could become your friend too . . .

Pastor Phil

Originally published by Church Prayer Leader Network
National Pastors Prayer Network

I am not interested in being Interim Football Coach at Penn. St. University. Having been Interim Pastor for churches with similar circumstances is enough. Fortunately, most of my 22 Interims have been for good churches with good circumstances, but not all. Whether a Pastor is guilty of sexual contact with children, extra-marital sexual relations, sexual harassment, mishandling of church funds for personal gain, or abuse of the position of Pastor, sin is not limited to the secular. Nor is godly character limited to the church, I might add. I’ve known some very godly football coaches, at high school, university and professional levels. I know a young Pastor whom God is using in amazing ways. He is personable, handsome, winsome, authoritative, and has a beautiful, sweet wife. Recently, I said to him, “I want you to know specifically how I am praying for you. I’m praying that God will lead you from temptation and deliver you from evil. Satan has a target on you as big as West Texas and there are females (and males) that are available for Him to use to bring you down and destroy what God is doing through you.” He looked at me like a deer caught in headlights and said, “Thanks.” Every Pastor needs someone praying a similar prayer for them. You don’t necessarily need to tell your pastor (or a fellow pastor) that you are praying that prayer, but why not voice it this week. And, oh yes, pray for football coaches also.

You can subscribe to Dr. Dan's Monday Morning Memo and receive it free via E-Mail every Monday morning - www.discipleallnations.org.

Defining the Word Humble found in II Chronicles 7 vs 14

Hebrew Strong's Number: 3665

Hebrew Word: ‏כָּנַע‎

Transliteration: kānaʿ

Phonetic Pronunciation:kaw-nah'

Root: a primitive root

Cross Reference: TWOT - 1001

Part of Speech: v

Vine's Words: Humble (Self) (To)

Usage Notes:

 English Words used in KJV:

humble 18
subdue 11
bring low 2
bring down 3
subjection 1
miscellaneous translations 1
[Total Count: 36]

a primitive root; properly to bend the knee; hence to humiliate, vanquish :- bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.

Source: Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

ע

Also: eye-to see, understand, obey—spiritual light of God

נַ

Also: fish, continue, offspring, heir

כָּ  

Also: bend, allow, open tame

A possible meaning of humble from the lexicon is:

כָּנַע‎ Vine's words:  Humble (Self) (To)

Possible meaning from the meaning of the Hebrew letters: To be open to continually reaching out, increasing in understanding, and obeying the spiritual light of God through cleansing or purification.

Some of the meanings of the Hebrew letters of the word humble are listed below:

כָּ

The letter could mean outstretched in order to receive something.  The letter could also mean 'to allow'.

נ

The letter could mean 'to continue'

ע

The letter could mean 'to see', 'to understand', 'to obey', in relationship to the spiritual light of God.  The letter could also mean 'purification' or 'cleansing'.

Each letter in Hebrew has a meaning, and sometimes a variety of meanings.  It is possible that several meanings or definitions of the word being examined could possibly be obtained looking at the letters of the word.  It takes reviewing the context of scripture like II Chronicles 7:14 to develop a possible meaning of a word in Hebrew using the letters.  

We must also remember that in Hebrew, letters are red from Right to Left in putting together the meaning of the letters in obtaining a possible meaning of the word.

As you study the word Humble, you will find the meaning of that word does have a significant meaning, and adds much depth to our understanding of II Chronicles 7:14.  

 In our culture today, we have become me-centered, even in our prayer lives. It seems like we are encouraged to listen to our feelings, allowing our feelings to dictate our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God cannot be based on our feelings. The foundation of our relationship must be our trust and faith in God.

The purpose of prayer is not for God to give us what we want, but to open our hearts, focusing our minds on Him, yielding ourselves to His higher purpose. As we open our hearts to God, his thoughts will become our hearts.

Eugene Peterson writes in Answering God, “To pray by feelings is to be at the mercy of glands and weather and digestion. And there is no mercy in any of them . . . we need more than our wants and whims to grow in our relationship with God. We need revealed truth.” ₁

A godly woman once told me, “Don’t pray when you feel like it, make an appointment with God, and keep it each day.”

When praying for your grandchildren ask God to shape their character according to His Word even if it requires some struggle. Ask God to give them a soft, teachable heart and a love for God’s Word so they will grow to be men and women of God who share the gospel with the world. 

₁ Pray! Magazine, Nov/Dec/ 2008 issue, page 32, published by The Navigators.

© 2010 Lillian Penner

As we approach the final days of Pastor Appreciation Month please partner with us in supporting pastors.  You can give your pastor a membership to The 6:4 Fellowship by clicking here.  You can pay his way to our powerful national conference in May 2012. For more information, click here.  We also hope you will make a generous contribution to help us in our ongoing efforts.  You can do so HERE.

"As one pastor said, 'You can sit on the shore and watch us row.  You can get in the boat and help us row.  But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.' Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks."

"The Six Best Things You Can Do For Your Pastor"

Every church has a strong presence of involved, grateful members who bring joy to their leaders.  During this month of emphasizing “Pastor Appreciation” many have already expressed their gratitude in a practical and meaningful fashion.  As I reflect on the things I have learned after almost 30 years of pastoral ministry, I want to recommend specific ways to express your support – not just this month, but all year long.

Six Recommendations

Pray – As I’ve written in recent weeks, the Apostle Paul was aggressive and unapologetic about requesting prayer for his life and ministry.  He understood the mysterious and glorious link between the prayers of God’s people in the blessing of God on his ministry. 

When we intercede for our leaders, God uses our prayers to change situations and hearts.  When we express gratitude for our leaders, God uses prayer to change us.  It is hard to be a critic and a prayer supporter at the same time. 

When we pray for pastors, it is a win-win arrangement.  They need the prayer; we need the practice.

Communicate – We don’t want to be like the husband who failed to communicate his appreciation to his wife.  She expressed to him one day, “You never tell me you love me.”  He responded, “I told you the day we got married and if I change my mind I will let you know.” 

Love and appreciation fail to bless another if they are not communicated.  It is possible that all ten lepers healed by Jesus were grateful, but only one returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19).  Too often, that one-in-ten expression is the experience of pastors.  Many in the church are grateful for a pastor’s faithfulness, example, sermons, family, and leadership.  Few take time to specifically and practically communicate their feelings.

Believe me, the critics don’t hold back in their e-mails, notes, and negative words.  The grateful majority needs to rise up and say so.  I have been astonished in past years when I was called away from a church at the specific and kind expressions that came in during my final days of service.  I often thought, “I never knew they felt that way.”  Make sure you let your pastoral leaders know how you feel this month.  Be specific and encouraging.  It will go a long way to strengthen their hearts.  And, don’t forget similar expressions to the spouse and family members.  They can also be overlooked.

Give – In a national study, clergy ranked in the top 10% of the population in terms of education but were only 325th of 432 occupations in terms of salary.  Most pastors serve and sacrifice far beyond what people realize, yet most lack the resources to get away and recharge as they should.  Tangible expressions of gratitude go a long way.  Gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to sporting events, an overnight get-away, and cash gifts all provide a special blessing for the often-strapped pastoral budget.  In one church, a family gave us the key to their mountain cabin.  Schedule permitting, our family was able to enjoy much-needed time away that made memories and refreshed our lives in ways we could not have otherwise afforded.

Protect – My wise friend Leith Anderson has noted, “Change agents need protectors.”  Pastors are targets of change-resistant antagonists.  These people seldom play by the biblical rules of relational authenticity.  In an effort to control the agenda of the church they back-bite, circulate rumors, and subtly seek to undermine the leadership.

Critics usually lose momentum when they cannot find a listening ear.  I often say, “You may be lord of your tongue but I am also master of my ears.”  Protect your pastoral leaders by refusing to give an ear to these destructive voices.  Insist that they go directly to the leadership or cease and desist. 

Beyond this, gossips and controllers need to be confronted about their divisive behavior according to the principles of Matthew 18:15-17.  When the entire body works biblically to deal with spiritual disease and maintain godly health, the church prospers, pastors are protected, and Christ is praised. 

Serve – Overloaded and weary pastors are often surrounded by members who are not doing their share to steward their own spiritual gifts and serve the mission of the church.  Those who serve with passion and perseverance help lift the load and build up the church.  Servants usually have gracious and godly attitudes since those who are pulling on the oars seldom have the time or desire to rock the boat.  As one pastor said, “You can sit on the shore and watch us row.  You can get in the boat and help us row.  But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.”  Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks. 

Discern – Churches are not perfect and pastors are 100% human.  There will always be things we do not like about the ministry.  We will always have preferences that are disappointed by the pastor’s leadership or approach.  It is important that we discern which issues are really worth our concern.  There are usually few hills worth dying on.

When leaders have to spend energy resolving concerns over non-essential issues, it distracts and dissipates their effectiveness.  Focus that should be given to meeting real needs and leading in the vital mission of the church gets squandered by needless squabbles.

Good Returns

Hebrews 13:17 tells us that our spiritual leaders watch out for our souls as those who must give an account to God.  This is a serious and sacrificial obligation.  This verse exhorts us to support them wholeheartedly so they can lead “with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.”  Joyful leaders are profitable leaders.  When they feel that their leadership is a grievous task, no one benefits.  The Amplified Bible says, “Do your part to let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning.”

Let’s all reap the profit that comes when we encourage and appreciate our spiritual leaders.  The positive advancement of the work of the Gospel depends on it.

Copyright © 2011 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

As I was thinking about Halloween coming up at the end of this month, I started thinking of jack-o-lanterns, costumes, masks, etc. Children have a good time deciding who they are going to be and what they will wear as they go trick or treating and of course eating their treats.

            It reminded me of how many of us try to cover up our feelings or who God designed us to be. We too, as grandparents tend to hide, conceal or disguise how we really feel about ourselves or who God says we are to be. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God created us to be genuine, authentic, sincere, and truthful, pleasing Him with doing good works for Him. Wearing a mask to cover up who God designed us to be will not bring us fulfillment.

Let’s ask ourselves:

Do I really believe God is who He says He is?

Do I really believe I am who God says I am?

Do my grandchildren see that Jesus Christ is the focal point of my life or do they think I am wearing a spiritual mask?

During this Halloween season, let us encourage our grandchildren to be real and honest and not wear masks in their relationship with Jesus Christ, their families and at school.

“A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful”

(Proverbs 14:25 NIV).

By Lillian Penner