Pray Network Forum

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

We are going to look in God’s Word to see some examples of people He used to stand in the gap for his purpose to be accomplished. The Bible describes prayer as “Standing in the Gap” or “Bridging the Gap” a channel through which God’s will is brought to earth.  

God chose and appointed Moses to stand in the gap between His people, the Israelites and Pharaoh. Esther stood in the gap for her people, the Israelites with prayer and fasting when Haman wanted to destroy the Israelites.   

There was no gap between God and the earth after God created the earth. However, after Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, sin created a gap between God and his plan for the earth. ¹    

Fortunately, God stood in the gap for us by sending His Son, Jesus to the earth to live as a man, die for our sins, and rise from the dead so we could have a personal relationship with Him. He chose us, to be a channel for His power to bridge the gap between himself and the earth.   

God chose us to partner with Him and intercede in behalf of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Just as Jesus, Moses, Esther, Daniel, Joseph, and many others in the Bible stood in the gap for God’s people, we as grandparents have the privilege to stand in the gap with prayer for our families.   

Satan is very active in the world today; he knows his time is short. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10, “We are to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” against Satan’s well-thought-out plans and agenda. His goal is to distract and steal our children, grandchildren, and future generations from their faith in Jesus Christ. Our goal ought to be that our grandchildren would know a full, purposeful, and fruitful life in Jesus Christ. 

It is not only important to pray for our families individually, it is vital that we unite with other grandparents to pray for our families in these crucial times. As Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN), I would like to encourage you to stand in the gap for your grandchildren by participating in a Grandparents @ Prayer (G@P) intercessory prayer group.   

We currently have about 30 G@P groups uniting in prayer for their grandchildren. Go to http://www.christiangrandparenting.net/prayer/grandparents-prayer/introduction-to-g-p check out the locations of current groups, testimonials, and additional information. We would love to have you to be a part of the G@P prayer ministry.

I would like to share one of my favorite songs May all who come behind us find us faithful which is my desire for my children, grandchildren and future generations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi-Mn5tRHvM

As grandparents, let us be the channels through which God’s will

is brought down to earth for our children, grandchildren,

 future generations and ourselves.

By Lillian Penner

₁ Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Living A Praying Life, (Birmingham, AL: New Hope, 2003). p 60.

 It’s only 31 days until National Grandparents Day. God has given grandparents a sacred trust – an opportunity to imprint another generation with His love and faithfulness.

That is why Christian Grandparenting Network has proclaimed the National Grandparents Day on September 13 to be a Day of prayer to cover our grandchildren and their parents with intentional prayer, especially as many of our grandchildren are going back to school. Have you noticed all the first day back to school pictures on Facebook lately?

Grandparents need to be intentional about the power of prayer to keep the hearts and minds of their grandchildren from falling captive to the enemy’s deception. We are engaged in a spiritual battle.

In today’s broken world, Satan’s purpose is to destroy the family. It is important that we pray God will give the parents of our grandchildren wisdom and time management in their monumental task of guiding our grandchildren in the ways of the Lord. We live in the midst of a busy and evil environment filled with many spiritual battles.

The Movies, Music, TV, Video games, and Internet are desensitizing our grandchildren.  They are faced with legal recreational Marijuana, Drugs, Sex-trafficking, alcohol, sexual identity, Homosexuality, Pornography, Pre-martial sex and more.

And so, here we are. In a country where they call wrong right and right wrong, and where our children are growing up in an entitlement society where no one wins, you don’t have to work to survive, and authority is to be challenged – not respected.

So what do we do when we live in a culture of spiritual, social and moral decline? Are we completely without hope and at the mercy of the merciless and the politically correct?

No, We are not without hope. We read in Psalms 46:1, “We have a God who is our refuge and strength, our stronghold in times of trouble.” 

Will you accept the challenge to make the National Grandparents’ Day

a Day of Prayer for our grandchildren and their parents on September 13?

If you are a praying grandparent who believes in the power of prayer for your grandchildren and their parents?  Will you join us?

To learn more about Grandparents’ Day of Prayer, view this short video. https://vimeo.com/130942706 indicate Participate in the movement and/or organize a time of prayer for other grandparents to join you. Go to http://www.grandparentsdayofprayer.com there you may find additional information and be able to order promotional resources on the website or email me.  lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

Please share this blog with your friends.

Lillian Penner, Grandparents’ Day of Prayer Coordinator

Most of the time I can go outside or I can sit and look out my window at the weather. Two days ago in mid afternoon, It became what they call deathly quiet. You know like the calm before a storm. Minutes had passed and still the very quietness of the day remained. Not only was it quiet but not a branch on the trees nor a blade of grass moved, for certain nothing in my view was moving or making any kind of noise. I waited to hear thunder or the wind blow but nothing. It was so still I thought that Jesus may appear at any moment. The next day was similar no sound,no movement. And yesterday again finally we had rain fall, but no thunder, no lightening no but gentle rain. My attention was drawn to God, what was he up to? Was He sending me a message? What? I do not know, but what I do know is that it reminded me how far away I'd gotten from prayer. I said to my husband that we'd been so busy unpacking and getting our house in order that we hadn't prayed. So sad my busyness would interrupt my prayer life so much that God had to get my attention to remember Him the giver of my life. I am so ashamed and desire to get back into not only the routine of prayer, but to pray with heart and to take time to hear back what God has to say. These days are comming fast upon us and we need to be ready at anytime for His appearing. 

Love, let those who have ears hear. 

Love you Lord for caring so much for me. 

There’s no denying it: smartphones are, well, smart. Nifty and immensely helpful gadgets, they seem to do everything we need: connect us to our peeps, answer all our questions, and guide us to our destinations. We grab them when we wake up, and fall asleep with them in our hands. (See infographic, below). We drive with them, keep track of our kids with them, and work better with them. As a nation, we have become addicted to the kind of personal technology that helps us live life, lose weight, look smart, and keep up with the daily grind – yet still fits in our pocket. There really isn’t much a smartphone can’t do – and we like that – a lot!

For those of Judeo-Christian backgrounds, however, the smartphone explosion looks uncannily like a scripture passage in Deuteronomy 6. It reads: 

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” 


(Deuteronomy 6:6-9, NKJV).

Click here to continue reading: Have-Smartphones-Replaced-God?

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

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

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

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

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

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

PrayNetwork.org Spotlight by Andrew Wheeler.

See Andrew's website at www.togetherinprayer.net

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

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

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

How to Pray for Grandchildren going Back to School I would like to share this Free Back to School E-book with you, giving you resources to pray effectively for your grandchildren as they go back to school. Our grandchildren will soon be going back to school, some are excited to be back in school, however, some are anxious because of the unknown. I want to intentionally pray for my two granddaughters starting Junior High and a granddaughter starting college to have a smooth transition into their new schools. The beginning of the school year can be a stressful experience for children from preschool thru college. New teachers and staff, new classmates, new dorm roommates and unfamiliarity in a new school setting can leave children and youth vulnerable to all kinds of negative influences. Our grandchildren are growing up and being educated in a time of global uncertainty, with peer pressures and temptations that we never experienced in our youth. We, as grandparents can help provide a hedge of protection for them, so they may be able to resist the temptations and deceptions they encounter, and experience, peace, joy, and success, as they navigate their world hostile to the truth. Call to Action This Back to School Free E-book will encourage you and give you effective ways to intentionally pray such as Suggestions to Pray for School Children (Preschool thru college). Get your E-Book soon the response for the E-book was overwhelming last year. I would love to send you this free E-book to help you intentionally pray for your grandchildren as they go back to school. Sign up (on the right side of page) for my blog updates and never miss a post. Then I will send you a free download of “Suggestions to Pray for Grandchildren in School” (preschool thru college) and the “31 Scriptures to Pray for Children” as a bonus along with the E-book. If you are already a subscriber, just send me an email requesting the Back to School E-book with the bonus. Mail to:lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network. Don’t forget to make National Grandparent’s Day A Day of Prayer on September 13 as your grandchildren go Back to School.

In Matthew 10 and in Luke 10, Jesus sends out the disciples to do ministry. They are to heal the sick, cast out demons and preach the Kingdom of God. The disciples are to find a man of peace or a house where peace remains. Can you just imagine the places they went, what was the buzz going on in the villages and cities? This was before TV and the internet, so these disciples and the work they were doing became the talk of the town. The news about them must have been great, and they must have kept having to say, "No it is not us, it is Jesus." There is no way this was a stealth ministry. The villages knew what was happening. "Grandma was healed and is up on her feet." "What! Our uncle who had that demon is now walking around in his right mind." That really is good news. Jesus sent out His disciples to be and to tell good news.

PRAY:

Pray for a greater increase in the doing and telling of the Good News in the AP.

Pray that as believers say to their local friends, "Peace be to this house" and "The Kingdom of God has come near to you", that they too would enter into the Kingdom of God and experience the peace that passes understanding that can only be found in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).

Pray that God would raise up men of peace all throughout the AP who will welcome believers into their homes and communities. This way, many doors will open to the Gospel message of salvation and hope in Jesus alone.

Pray that the Kingdom of God would manifest itself through spiritual salvation and the meeting of physical, felt needs. Pray for wholeness and restoration of all things in Christ (Acts 3:21).

One of the top concepts in the corporate world these days is “the power of full engagement.” It’s a paradigm for managing your personal or organizational energy, and I think you would find it very helpful.

But recently I’ve been learning about the flipside of that concept: the power of full DISENGAGEMENT.

Let me explain why this is so important…

My baby blue 1976 Fiat was the favorite car I’ve ever owned. With 5-speed manual transmission and a responsive engine, it was a complete blast to drive.

But sometimes my Fiat was so much fun that I forgot to press the clutch before changing gears. The result was a horrible grinding sound, not to mention considerable embarrassment on my part. And occasionally my failure to press the clutch even resulted in the engine stalling.

Lately I’ve realized that God is getting me ready for a new season in my life, and I’ve thought about the lesson I learned years ago with that old Fiat: If you’re going to make a smooth transition from one gear (or season) to the next, you’d better press the clutch first.

In many ways, this seems a great paradox. In order to be fully engaged with the next gear, you must first take time to be fully disengaged from your present gear. Shortcuts simply don’t work. In fact, shortcuts will eventually cause permanent damage to the gears.

No one modeled the power of disengagement better than Jesus. When He saw that His disciples were facing burnout because of never-ending activity, He instructed them to “come apart” to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31 KJV). Then and now, those who don’t intentionally disengage from their daily grind on a regular basis will eventually “come apart” (i.e., fall apart) in unpleasant, unintentional ways.

Jesus realized the POWER in disengagement, especially when we use that time to better engage with our Heavenly Father. We repeatedly see Him disengaging from the crowds, and even from His disciples, to go pray in the wilderness or on top of a mountain. What was the result of such times? “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14).

Isn’t that beautiful? After Jesus purposefully disengaged for a while, He was able to reengage with new strength and power.

Today, do you find yourself anticipating a new season in your life, but unsure how to get there? Or perhaps you feel stuck in “second gear,” unable to move on. Or maybe you keep hearing a loud screeching sound every time you try to move from one gear to the next.

If you can relate to any of these symptoms, I encourage you to discover—or rediscover, like I have—the power of full disengagement. Leave your friends and family for a few days. Disconnect from your work responsibilities, your smart phone, and your social media. Find a place to quiet your heart and rest.

As you take time to disengage and be still, you’ll experience the powerful message of Psalm 46:10: He is God—and you’re not! That is really, really good news, isn’t it?

Tim Keller says, "We should not decide how to pray based on the experiences and feelings we want. Instead, we should do everything possible to behold our God as he is, and prayer will follow." Maybe that's why we need to build and maintain a prayer altar in our heart? We need to be there, in God's Presence, not just ‘experience’ His kingdom power, peace and prosperity.

Years ago, my view of prayer was radically changed by a little booklet entitled, My Heart, Christ’s Home.  Written by Robert Boyd Munger (and still in print today), it is a visual depiction of how a relationship with Christ transforms our lives. His heartbeat became my heartbeat as I celebrated the shift in my own desires. His presence became my greatest inheritance, and divine encounters my greatest memories.

I would like to introduce you to a book that will challenge 

grandparents, baby boomers and beyond to look at their grandparenting in our broken world.  Courageous Grandparenting: Unshakeable Faith in a Broken World is a call for grandparents and parents to rise above the conventional view of grandparenting to embrace radically courageous life that stands apart from the politically correct crowd. It’s a call to intentionality—not settling for simply being good parents and grandparents, but choosing to stand in the gap and live as conduits of grace and truth for the next generations.

The author, Cavin Harper, Executive Director for Christian Grandparenting Network appeals to the emerging masses of Boomer grandparents to create a movement of godly men and women resolved to not let another generation grow up on our watch that does not know the Lord or His amazing grace. There’s too much at stake if we don’t.

Grandmother, Lana Rockwell says, “Courageous Gandparenting is a must read for every Christian grandparent who wants to make a difference in the lives of their grandchildren.”

This book won’t make you the perfect grandparent, however, it will give you resources for grandparenting in the broken world we live in today. I am the National Prayer Coordinator of Christian Grandparenting Network and eager to share this book with you in preparation for Grandparents’ Day of Prayer on September 13. Check out https://www.grandparentsdayofprayer.com for information.

It is only 45 days until Grandparents’ Day of Prayer on September 13. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you in your role as a grandparent in preparation for Grandparents’ Day of Prayer

Now you are at the point of making a decision: Are you going to learn how you can be a Courageous Grandparent in this broken world?

This book is available at http://www.christiangrandparenting.net/bookstore

Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network

For several reasons I have decided to suspend my blog during the month of August,2015. I am praying about some special future blog entries. So I will see you in September.

Last week I wrote about praying in or from the gospel. We could never plumb the depths or mount the heights of this subject. And I wish to pen just a few more lines specifically on the grace unleashed by the good news of Jesus Christ.

First note that we come to prayer In the Confession of The Gospel. There is a power here to kill the selfishness, self-centeredness and independence that separate us from God and others. The Son of God had to die in my place to redeem me. I did not just need a little correction or improvement. I was totally lost.

Next we come to pray In the Communion of The Gospel. The gospel brings far more to us than forgiveness. Forgiveness says, "You are pardoned. You may go. The grace of the gospel says, "You are forgiven. Come in to my presence."

And imagine the Confidence of Prayer from The Gospel. We now come to God in the love and approval of the Son of God! He became our sin so we might become His righteousness. We pray in the applause of our Heavenly Father!

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://daveswatch.com/

The older I get, the more I notice the storms. I am like a tree, whose increasing height causes its branches to tremble in greater gales. As an immature shrub I did not notice the weather as much, being close to the ground. As a more mature evergreen, I feel the wind rustle through every branch, shake every leaf, and chill me to the core. I see more, gain greater perspective, and face greater fears as I grow.

Yet there is comfort, too. My roots have grown stronger as I have grown taller. The soil I was planted in has nourished and sustained me all this time, and my roots have gone deep. My foundation of faith has proved solid and true. Abiding in Jesus has not been in vain.

Perhaps this is why the Bible often describes men as “trees.” We need the kind of imagery that gives us peace in the storms of life, an understanding of who we are that defies the challenges of our situations. A mature tree cannot be easily uprooted. It has the resources within itself to draw up water – strength - from the deeper wells of the earth. We need to know that. We need to do that.

Click here to continue reading Faith In Life's Storms

Albert Einstein asked, “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin, what else does a man need to be happy?” Apparently Einstein was not smart enough for Harvard University, who conducted a seventy-five year longitudinal study of the subject, and first concluded happiness is love. Then this same group suggested that happiness is good, explaining that happiness actually comes from three goods: (1) Doing good for others, (2) Doing things that one is good at, and (3) Doing good for self. This year’s Harvard survey suggests you can be happier if you: Choose to be happy with whatever you do, strengthen your closest relationships and take care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally. I guess it would have been too much to simply ask what the Bible had to say about happiness. The Psalmist said, “Happy is the man who has put his trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:4, HCSB) and Solomon, considered by many as the wisest man of his day, added, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20). May today, be a happy day, for you.