All Posts (3723)
Sort by
| The life of a church planter can certainly be pressure filled. Demands on time and energy can sometimes seem overwhelming. At moments like these, it may appear impossible not to feel yourself slipping away into anxiety, or even, fear. The Apostle Paul gives a familiar exhortation for just this kind of situation. Read More En Espanol |
 |
| It Seems to Me . . . |
 . . . prayer must be more than an answer to a survey question.
Sometime back at a training conference, one of the organizers told me this group of churches had recently surveyed their pastors and, on their list of what topics they wanted the most help with, prayer was in the top three (he may have even said #1). I was encouraged, until only two persons attended my workshop on prayer that day. Conferees had plenty of additional choices, each workshop focused on a topic or skill essential to the health of either a Christian believer or a Christ-honoring congregation. Every workshop deserved a room full and even the best attended had only 8-10. But my troubled spirit was not that only two came to my workshop. Read more . . . |
Pull up a chair and invite some of your other friends to join you for this conference call with special guest Steve Hawthorne, Director of WayMakers and author of “Seek God for the City” on Thursday, Feb 17th at 10am CST/11am EST.
Steve Hawthorne serves with WayMakers, a prayer and mission mobilization organization in Austin, Texas. He's the author of the widely-used prayer guide called “Seek God for the City.” After co-editing the course and the book “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” in 1981, he launched “Joshua Project,” a series of research expeditions among
unreached peoples in world class cities. He co-authored, with Graham Kendrick, the book “Prayerwalking: Praying On-Site With Insight.” He has helped leaders in numerous cities unite and sustain life-giving prayer for entire communities. With humor and seasoned wisdom, he speaks with living passion for the greater glory of Jesus. He says of his ministry, “I like to
commit arson of the heart."
Join us and other leaders on Thursday, February 17th at 10am CST (11am EST, 9 am MST, 8am PST) by dialing 712-432-0075. When prompted use this code: 9310472.* We do request that you please RSVP to info@cityreaching.com.
More on Steve Hawthorne at http://waymakers.org or http://www.waymakers.org/index.php?p=sgftc
Don’t miss the early bird discount of February 21 for the National Leadership Consultation on Evangelism scheduled for April 4-6 in Orlando. To register for the discount rate visit: www.orlando2011.org!
Visit www.cityreaching.com for more information on previous cityreaching conference calls, regional and national conferences.
SPECIAL TEXT REMINDER:
Sign up for the MAC Cityreaching Conf Call Text Reminder. We will send you a text the day of the call to remind you and also include the number/code. To register, send a text from your cell phone before to the number: 77577 (Yes, just those 5 digits!)
Then type in the message field: my confcall followed by your first and last name, example: my confcall Jarvis Ward Then, *send* it.
This is what it should look like as an example:
To: 77577
my confcall Jarvis Ward
The call is hosted by
Jarvis C. Ward, Mission America City/Community Ministries
and
Glenn A. Barth, GoodCities
Tweet: @jarvisward @cityreaching
|
|
February 2011 |
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
| If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe |
Click here to forward this email to a friend |
International Renewal Ministries 1400 NE 136th Avenue Suite 201 Vancouver, Washington 98684 US
|
 |
Intimacy Precedes Impact
Daniel Henderson - Tuesday, February 08, 2011
The life and ministry of Jesus is our ultimate model for living. One of the principles that resounds in the Gospel accounts in and through His life is that authentic intimacy precedes eternal impact. Because every true believer has a longing for intimacy with God and desire for a life that matters in the lives of others, it is important to study the example of Jesus and choose to walk in His steps.
Jesus’ Pursuit of Intimacy
Prior to starting His public ministry, the Lord Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness in prayer and fasting, enjoying solitary communion with the Father. This incredible model stands in dramatic contrast to our modern rush to public ministry as we tend to speed our way through academic preparation, job placement, and ministry output. The pattern of empowering intimacy can get lost in the fray of productivity.
Prior to selecting the apostles, Jesus spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12), demonstrating the kind of intimacy that produces good leadership choices. Today we tend to rely on nominating committees and popular voting rather than extraordinary alignment with the heart and will of God through prayer.
Mark 3:14 describes His design for the twelve He selected where it records, “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Jesus first wanted His followers to “be with Him” in order to learn His ways, experience His heart, and understand His power as essential ingredients to life-changing impact.
Throughout His ministry we find Jesus relentlessly modeling intimacy with the Father as He rose up early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35). He retreated to solitary places to pray (Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16), took His disciples with Him for seasons of extraordinary prayer (Luke 9:28, 22:40), and trusted the Father for strength and wisdom to fulfill His mission (Matthew 26:39; John 17).
Learning from Him
The great incentive for our praying is to walk, live, and serve as Jesus did. I often say that there is a sense in which Jesus was the only one to walk this earth who did not need to pray, but did – in order to help those of us who do need to pray, but don’t, learn how to do it. He was fully God and fully man. As divine, He enjoyed constant union with the Father. As man, Jesus' prayer life modeled for us what it meant to consciously rely on the Father.
Early Leaders Learn and Live the Lesson
After Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection the work of the Gospel would be advanced through a small band of 120 disciples. They could not accomplish the mission without the supernatural empowerment of the Spirit. Again, intimacy preceded impact as Jesus commanded them to wait in an upper room where they prayed for 10 days.
The early disciples demonstrated this truth throughout their high-impact advancement of the Gospel. As soon as the church was birthed, they locked in to a pattern of pursuing intimacy (Acts 2:42). After facing persecution they came back to extraordinary worship-based prayer (Acts 4:23-31). When coping with the growing pains of rapidly advancing ministry, the leaders remained resolute on their need for intimacy via collective prayer and the Word (Acts 6:4).
Paul also embraced this model of extraordinary intimacy prior to public ministry when he spent three years in the Arabian desert prior to his public ministry (Galatians 1:17-18). While we do not know the exact details of his time in Arabia, there is no doubt that a pursuit of a great intimacy with Christ was part of his experience. The launch of international missions emerges from a season of intimacy as Paul joined the leaders in Antioch as they fasted and ministered to the Lord (Acts 13:1-2). From the depths of a prison, Paul was beaten, bloody, and bruised – but He worshiped, sang, and prayed. Miraculous impact followed. The prison shook, prisoners were released, the Gospel went forward, and before the end of the night the jailor and his family were converted and baptized (Acts 16:25-34).
In all of these instances, early church leaders were not just praying “about things” but were spending time “with Someone” as the life-source of all they were called to be and do. They had learned from Christ’s model and were resolute to do His work in His power.
Empowered Living
In a recent interview with Pastor Alistair Begg, he noted, “We can do more than pray, after we have prayed, but we cannot do more than pray before we have prayed.” He went on to suggest that for every minute of our sermon delivery, we should spend 15 minutes in prayer. This would equate to 10 hours of prayer prior to the Sunday message. What a great goal and illustration of the principle of intimacy preceding impact. (You can see excerpts of this interview at www.64fellowship.com).
As we seek to influence others for Christ in this life, there are many tools and opportunities. Still, we must remember that ministry is not so much a thing that we produce for Jesus. Rather, it is the power of His life, working in and through us. Intimacy precedes and sustains impact. As Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
“Lord, let us seek You passionately, then allow you to live Your life through us to change this world by the power of Your Gospel.”
Copyright © 2011 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.
News flash: JUBA AS NEXT CAPITAL: SOUTHERN SUDAN PREPARES FOR INDEPENDENCE.
A new country is born. Wow. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago, I was struggling with prayer, wondering what the point is in praying for a country I have never been in, know no one from, and have the sketchiest picture of. And now... a new country is being born. That is not to say that MY prayers twisted God's arm to move and Viola! Southern Sudan is independent. God forbid I should have such thoughts.
God is unfoldng his great big plan before our very eyes -- before MY very eyes, and I am there. I am there, as only prayer can allow me to be. I am there, cheering Him, awe-struck by His game plan and flawless execution. Again, not that He needed my cheers, but that I NEEDED to be there... to personally feel the excitement in the air... to be gripped by the suspense like a fan with a court-side seat (or even just the cheapest seat up the bleachers)... and watch my Hero make the goal. I know He will win the game... it has been appointed. But to be there, through prayer is really something.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ...pray continually...
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Obama talks openly about his personal faith in Jesus Christ
Speaking at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast, the President talks about how he came to embrace Christ ‘as my Lord and Savior’
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) -- President Barack Obama took the opportunity of set the record straight at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast held on Thursday, February 3, 2011, about his personal faith.
 |
President Obama speaking at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast |
He surprised the crowd of about 4,000 faith-leaders at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in the Hilton Washington International Ballroom, by speaking about his Christian faith in a most personal way.
In his most unusual speech, Obama called that faith “a sustaining force” in his life and he acknowledged persistent questions about his religion and offered what many believe were his most detailed comments about his spiritual beliefs and practices.
In his speech, the President said, “A call rooted in faith is what led me, just a few years out of college, to sign up as a community organizer for a group of churches on the south side of Chicago. And it was through that experience, working with pastors and laypeople, trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighborhoods that I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and Savior.”
 |
The Obamas at a previous National Prayer Breakfast |
Obama went on to say, “My Christian faith, then, has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time. We are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God. ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, as well.’”
Prayer Life
Obama then revealed that “When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people. And when I go to bed at night, I wait on the Lord, and I ask him to forgive me my sins and look after my family and the American people and make me an instrument of his will.”
Obama went on to say, “Fortunately, I’m not alone in my prayers. Pastor friends like Joel Hunter and T.D. Jakes come over to the Oval Office every once in a while to pray with me and pray for the nation. The chapel at Camp David has provided consistent respite and fellowship. The director of our Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership’s office, Joshua DuBois – a young minister himself -- he starts my morning off with meditations from Scripture.”
Then, on the subject of personal prayer, Obama said, “While I petition God for a whole range of things, there are a few common themes that do recur. The first category of prayer comes out of the urgency of the Old Testament prophets and the Gospel itself. I pray for my ability to help those who are struggling. Christian tradition teaches that one day the world will be turned right side up and everything will return as it should be. But until that day, we're called to work on behalf of a God that chose justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable.”
He also said, “I pray that God will show me and all of us the limits of our understanding, and open our ears and our hearts to our brothers and sisters with different points of view; that such reminders of our shared hopes and our shared dreams and our shared limitations as children of God will reveal the way forward that we can travel together.”
Father Played No Role In His Faith Journey
With the controversy that has swirled around him since he became the 44th President of the United States [and the first African-American to hold that office], which has mainly concerned rumors that he was a Muslim, he explained his relationship with the Lord and the role his father, who was said to be Muslim, did not play a role in his decision to follow Jesus Christ.
“My father, who I barely knew -- I only met once for a month in my entire life -- was said to be a non-believer throughout his life,” said the President.
 |
The young Obama with his mother |
“My mother,” Obama continued, “whose parents were Baptist and Methodist, grew up with a certain skepticism about organized religion, and she usually only took me to church on Easter and Christmas -- sometimes. And yet my mother was also one of the most spiritual people that I ever knew. She was somebody who was instinctively guided by the Golden Rule and who nagged me constantly about the homespun values of her Kansas upbringing, values like honesty and hard work and kindness and fair play.
“And it’s because of her that I came to understand the equal worth of all men and all women, and the imperatives of an ethical life and the necessity to act on your beliefs. And it’s because of her example and guidance that despite the absence of a formal religious upbringing my earliest inspirations for a life of service ended up being the faith leaders of the civil rights movement.”
Twists and Turns
President Obama talked about how his “faith journey,” has had its “twists and turns.”
He stated, “It hasn’t always been a straight line. I have thanked God for the joys of parenthood and Michelle’s willingness to put up with me. In the wake of failures and disappointments I've questioned what God had in store for me and been reminded that God’s plans for us may not always match our own short-sighted desires.
Abe Lincoln’s Words
“And let me tell you, these past two years, they have deepened my faith. The presidency has a funny way of making a person feel the need to pray. Abe Lincoln said, as many of you know, once said, ‘I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.’”
Obama noted that the godmother of his two daughters, Kaye Wilson, had formed prayer groups all around the country as he campaigned for the White House bid. He acknowledged his own prayer life, waiting before the Lord in the morning and evening. The president recognized the need for humility, and jokingly said his wife Michelle was the catalyst to that answered prayer. As “debates have become so bitter,” Obama noted that “none of us has all the answers.”
The president went on to say, “The challenge I find then is to balance this uncertainty, this humility, with the need to fight for deeply held convictions, to be open to other points of view but firm in our core principles. And I pray for this wisdom every day.”
He also stated, “When Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time, we are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God.”
Obama had been largely private about his beliefs and religious practices, following controversies during the campaign about his Chicago minister. He and his wife have attended church services in Washington only a handful of times in the past two years. When at Camp David, they attend the private Evergreen Chapel.
Mark Kelly
 |
The Giffords during happier times |
NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat who was seriously injured during last month’s shooting rampage in Tucson, also spoke at the breakfast and gave the closing prayer and which he remarked about her steady improvement and he urged the national to keep her in its thoughts and prayers because “it's helping.”
He said, “Every day, she gets a little bit better. The neurosurgeons and neurologists tell me that that's a great sign. The slope of that curve is very important.”
Giffords, was injured on Saturday, January 8, 2011, when a gunman opened fire during a constituent event in Tucson. Six people, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl, were killed, and 13 others were wounded. Giffords, whose condition was upgraded from serious to good last week, is undergoing long-term rehabilitation at a hospital in Houston, where Kelly lives and works.
“I was telling Gabby just the other night, two nights ago, that, you know, maybe this event, this terrible event, maybe it was fate,” he said. “I hadn't been a big believer in fate until recently. I thought the world just spins, and the clock just ticks, and things happen for no particular reason.”
Kelly told the crowd, which included a representative from the ASSIST News Service, that he has come to believe, however, that things happen for a reason, “that maybe something good can come from all of this. Maybe it's our responsibility, maybe it's your responsibility, to see that something does.”
Hospital officials say Kelly has been a constant presence at Giffords' bedside.
Three Trips to Space
On Thursday, he made reference to his three trips to space and the humbling feeling of looking out on “the Earth as God created it in the context of God's vast universe.” He described a realization that struck him one day as he gazed on a makeshift memorial that had sprung up in front of the Tucson trauma center where Giffords was initially taken for treatment.
“That reminded me that you don’t need a church, a temple or a mosque to pray,” he said. “You don't even need a building or walls or even an altar. You pray where you are. You pray when God is there in your heart. And prayer isn't just asking. It's also listening for answers and expressing gratitude, which I've done a lot lately.”
He closed with a prayer that Giffords’ rabbi spoke in her hospital room the day of the shooting.
“In the name of God, our God of Israel, may Michael, God's angel messenger of compassion, guard over your right side. May Gabriel, God's angel messenger of strength and courage, be on your left. And before you, guiding your path, Uriel, God's angel of light. And behind, supporting you, stands Raphael, God's angel of healing. And over your head surrounding you is the presence of the divine.”
Note: The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide and is actually a series of meetings, luncheons, and dinners that have taken place since 1953 and has been held at least since the 1980s at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue N.W.
| Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 47 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link.Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available here |
 |
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Send this story to a friend. Share
Every so often, God opens a door to pray in a really strategic way for the world. Such a time is now upon us in Egypt. Widely recognized as the intellectual center of Islam in the world, Egypt is going through the kind of transition that could determine the future of the country for generations to come, and could also have strategic impact in the world.
Radical Islam is the most visible threat in the world to religious freedom and, specifically, to Christ-followers. Egypt, known for decades as a relatively "friendly" country for Christians in comparison to much of the Middle East and North Africa, is at a fork in the road. One path leads to true religious freedom, where both Christians and Muslims are free to express and share their faith, and truly free to choose how they will believe without fear of persecution. The other path leads to Sharia law, arguably the most repressive religious system in the world. The likelihood of remaining on the same relatively neutral path that the country has been on under Mubarak seems small. Now is the strategic time to pray for Egypt, an opportunity that may not come again in our lifetime.
So, how do we pray? We need to start by humbly admitting to God that we don't really know what to pray for (Romans 8:26) and by asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we pray. Should President Mubarak resign or not? If so, when? And who should take over? Only God has the wisdom to know what is best for the country, for His Church, for the world. Only God simultaneously hears the cries of oppressed and poverty-stricken people while also seeing the beginning from the end in the "big picture". How could we think to suggest to God what the answers are, or how He should act?
Since God is the One who leads us to pray in the first place, a great place to start our prayers is with specific biblically-based requests. Scripture shows over and over God's concern for those who have no voice of their own - the persecuted, the poor, the widow and the orphan. Scripture also assures us that God's word will go forth to every people group and that there will be believers from "every nation, tribe, and language". We know from the letters to the churches in Revelation 1-3 how God wants His Church to be characterized. God is pleased with righteous servant-leaders and frowns on governments characterized by corruption, self-interest, and oppression. These are just a few of many examples of how we can pray God's will for Egypt.
The streets of Egypt are a battleground right now. Protests, violence, clashes of ideology, politics, and economics. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The real battle is a battle happening in the spiritual realm. Ultimately, it's a battle between God and Satan. Specifically, in this case, it's a battle between Christianity and radical Islam. And just as the real battle is a spiritual one, so the weapons to fight that battle must also be spiritual ones - specifically, prayer. Regardless of the outcome of this one battle, the ultimate victory will be God's. He could win it completely without us, but he calls us to participate in his victory through prayer.
Here on the Pray! network, check out Phil Miglioratti's discussion on Egypt in the Operation World prayer group. Operation World is a great resource for further information.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:20, NIV)
I Timothy 2:1 - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men."
What a great verse to describe the priority of prayer! I decided to use "first of all" to name a prayer resource website that is loaded with ideas to spur thinking about how to get a church down the road on a journey toward becoming a "house of prayer". You may want to check out all that is available at www.FirstOfAll.org
Available on the website are ideas and photos and prayer guides for prayer journeys, congregational prayer summits, family prayer events and much more. A great majority of what is there is focused on "Scripture-fed, Spirit-led" style praying that I caught at pastors' prayer summits sponsored by International Renewal Ministries, led by Dennis Fuqua. Phil Miglioratti has been to our church on a couple of occasions to facilitate our congregational prayer summits - the most memorable being a family prayer summit at a beautiful horse farm.
| |
Enjoy a new, web-based resource to encourage families to enjoy fun, easy moments in Scripture-based praying! Forty free prayer guides are available on www.YourHomeAHouseOfPrayer.com.
As a pastor in Birmingham, Alabama whose church in on a journey to becoming a "house of prayer", I knew that the Church needed tools to help families pray together more effectively - especially tools that encourage Scripture-based praying.
The prayer guides are categorized into three sections: Regular Scriptural Passages, Special Family Days, and Special Issues that families face.
Check it out - I hope you'll enjoy it!
in the earth.” —Isaiah 62:6-7 NKJ
Our founding fathers set out to make this nation the greatest nation. They understood how critical it was for them to seek “Divine Providence” in order for this to occur. At a critical moment in the forming of our Constitution even Ben Franklin, one of the least religious of our founding fathers, was quoted urging his fellow framers that, “prayers [must be held] imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation.” Without the assistance of our Heavenly Father, America would never become a “praise in the earth.”
The desire woven into our culture for America to be the best is a good one —as long as we understand that only our Heavenly Father can do this for His Name’s sake and for His Kingdom. And who is it that moves the hand of our Heavenly Father? Watchmen.
There is much talk about watchmen and God’s intent for this role. It is amazing our Heavenly Father even chooses to use watchmen. He could have put the creation on autopilot or just left it to evolve randomly, but He is so eager to have us involved in shaping history that He has established this position.
What are two elements of this calling? The first element is that watchmen are to be diligent. Watchmen are to never give our Heavenly Father peace until He has accomplished all that is possible with a nation (Isaiah 62:6). We are to stand watch until there is an answer (Habakkuk 2:1).
The other element of our calling is accountability. It is quite chilling: If we hear from the Lord and do not “speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life,” God will hold us accountable (Ezekiel 3:17-19). It is our responsibility to be obedient and speak what has been spoken to us.
We must not give up the fight to make America the greatest nation—in obedience to our Heavenly Father—on the face of the earth. We must fight this battle with diligence as watchmen on our knees, realizing there is strict accountability.
Go to GetAmericaPraying.com and join the 1000+ watchmen who have taken their place on the prayer wall for this nation.
 |
God Wants to Have Meaningful Conversations With Us Living In the Companionship of God |
We, the congregation of Center United Methodist Church, in Indianapolis, Indiana, are seeking the Holy Spirit's direction in understanding what Jesus actually meant when he said "My House Shall Be Called A House of Prayer!" Yes, we know what it means to "pray." But what is a house of prayer? We already have a beautiful prayer chapel that is often used through out the week and not just on Sunday. We have two groups dedicated to prayer throughout the week and they meet in the church at least once a week other then Sunday. We have had a seminar on the basics of prayer. We have a pastor dedicated to prayer and discipleship. Most Sundays we have at least one person come forward to be anointed and prayed over for various issues and illnesses. Our prayer shawl ministry has prayed over and given away at least 115 prayer shawls. And yet we continue to feel God calling us to be a house of prayer. We want desperately to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and we seek a clear biblical understanding of what a house of prayer is.
1. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where the Holy Spirit of God makes his presence known.
2. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where grace through the blood of Jesus is extended.
3. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where healing of all kinds takes place.
4. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where the Holy Scripture is revered and studied faithfully.
5. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where worship is designed to give God glory.
6. We believe that a house of prayer is a place where seeking the face of God is a priority.
Pray with and for Center UMC that we will discover God's meaning of a house of prayer and implement it to his glory.
God placed our hearts at such a great value that He sent his only Son to die on the cross for our sins so we could have a personal relationship with him.
If we really believe, God values our hearts enough to send His son to die for our sins we must guard our hearts. By guarding our hearts, we protect our relationship with Him. We must choose to abide in Him on a consistent daily basis, it does not happen automatically. He desires for us to handle our hearts as His treasure, holding it tight and not be careless.
As grandparents, let’s pray that our grandchildren will allow their hearts to be tender and teachable to God’s Word, and not be careless with His treasure. Our grandchildren live in the midst of a battle; a brutal and vicious war against a subtle and friendly enemy who knows his time is short. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” When we guard our own hearts, we can have a part in nourishing the hearts of our dear grandchildren so they will recognize the deception of the world and guard their hearts.
How do we guard our hearts? We protect, defend, and shield our hearts from the enemy by developing an intimate relationship with God. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1. “Set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things.” The enemy wants to rob our hearts, trying to get us over-whelmed, defeated, and tired. The enemy wants us to be so busy that when God wants to get our attention and communicate with us His call goes to “voice mail.” As grandparents, we can set an example by demonstrating that our relationship with God is a high priority for us.
A weak or empty heart is vulnerable to temptation by the enemy. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray so you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” When we are tired, sad, and discouraged or when our hearts are cluttered or divided we are often weak. However, when we yield to temptation, God has made a way to escape. If we confess our sin, He will forgive our sin, and cleanse our hearts because we are His treasure.
Paul tells us several times that we need to be strong in our faith to resist the enemy. By choosing to spend time in God’s Word, communicating with Him in prayer, we can strengthen our heart to resist the enemy.
Encourage your grandchildren to invite Jesus into their hearts, grow strong in their faith, and guard their hearts. If you want to learn more about grandparenting with a purpose check out the my book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren at www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com.
Lillian Penner
My congregation has had some spark with new members.
When that happens, some of older people tend to not welcome anybody new into "their family." Then they quit and we get back to the plateau that is managable by just a few. Pray for us.
It's no wonder so many people (and even pastors) are discouraged with prayer. Instead of a genuine encounter with God, prayer is little more than a grocery list of requests. Maybe you, too, seek God's hand rather than His face.
My newest book, Transforming Prayer - How Everything Changes When You Seek God's Face, we discover how to:
- Pray to seek God's face NOT just His hand.
- Pray with your heart fixed on God's glory NOT just for personal satisfaction
- Pray from the treasure of God's word NOT simply from a list of your own ideas
- Pray according to the Spirit's instruction NOT only from human reason
- Pray with a heart completely surrendered to His will NOT with a hurried personal agenda
- Pray in anticipation of living triumphantly in the war-zone NOT with a satisfaction with the comfort zone.
- Pray that God would change you NOT that He would simply change things.
Transforming Prayer presents life-changing truths and practical handles to get you started in a fresh adventure in your time with God. You will enjoy "trophies of transformation" throughout the book as individual stories of life-change are told. Discussion questions for each chapter are contained in the back of the book, making this a great tool for your next small group or Sunday School study.
For brief video introductions to each chapter, free downloads, and more information about the book, please visit www.transformingprayerbook.com.
