Pray Network Forum

“Play so that you may be serious.” (Anacharsis, c 600 B.C., quoted in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, 4^th century B.C.)

On this day in 2004, after an 86 year wait, the Boston Red Sox finally captured a World Series trophy. Celebration was intense when success finally happened. Victory was sweet because it was a long time coming.

After last night’s game, with Madison Bumgarner pitching a shutout, the Royals’ hope of winning the World Series began to dim. The San Francisco Giants lead the series 3-2 against the Kansas City Royals.

People pay unbelievable prices for tickets to see these games. Intense emotion is evident on the faces of fans, alternating between agony and ecstasy as their favored team stumbles or shines.

Whatever happens, die-hard fans never quit cheering their beloved team. Holding signs that read “WE BELIEVE”, they persist in counting on their team’s ability to win, and they refuse to surrender to despair even when they lose a game. Next season they’ll do better, next time they’ll make the playoffs, next year they’ll win the World Series.

I recall hearing a story about a man strolling by a little league baseball field and having a conversation with the center fielder. “How’s it going, young fella?” he inquired. “Just fine, mister” the boy replied. “What’s the score?” the man asked. “It’s 14 to nothing” the youngster reported. “And it’s still just fine? How could that be?” the man asked. “It’s because,” the center fielder said, “we’re not up to bat yet!”

Sometimes it seems the score is “Evil 14, Good 0”. But beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, there’s an undying hope for an ultimate victory that will be sweet indeed—when Jesus gets up to bat.

“Next year in Jerusalem” is the true believer’s rallying cry of hope.

“Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Read blog at http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized

Lately, I’ve seen an interesting quote circulating. “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, Thank you, that would suffice.” Is that true? How does one reconcile this idea of only saying thank you, with Jesus’ comment to Peter, “I have prayed for you” (Luke 22:32), Paul’s frequent reminder to those to whom he wrote that he was praying for them, or James’ instruction to “pray for one another” (James 5:16). A colleague, who took the time to count, says 78% of the prayers in the Bible are prayers for someone other than self. So, who made this questionable quote? The quote is attributed to Meister Eckhart, also known as Eckhart von Hochheim, a German theologian, philosopher and mystic, who lived in the late 1200s and early 1300s. In later life he was accused of heresy and brought up before the local Franciscan-led Inquisition, and tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII. I encourage you to pray lots of “thank you” prayers, but don’t stop with the advice offered in a popular quote from a heretic theologian. Go ahead and practice biblical praying through intercession, petition, and supplication.

We often think of prayer as a lone vigil. And sometimes it is. But the Scripture also teaches us to pray together. Nearly all the references to the powerful prayer in the early chapters of Acts are plural. "They lifted their voices together in prayer.” (Acts 4:24)

Do you have a Bible study or prayer group where you can share prayer requests? Praying together is one of the most powerful things we do as a church. In Matthew 18:19 Jesus gave us a special promise of answered prayer when we agree together. Nothing binds the church together like prayer.

In Romans 15:30 Paul urged the believers in Rome to strive together with him in Prayer. The word in the original language is "sunagonizomai". This compound word is made up by "sun," which means together and "agonizomai." From this word we get our word agonize. It was an athletic term. It meant to pour your guts out in athletic competition. "Sunagonizomai" was used for teammates striving together.*

Are you striving together in prayer with a missionary, a pastor or a Christian writer? Do you have a prayer team praying with you? Has God given you a special ministry? Do you teach a Sunday School class? Are you trying to witness a co-worker? Do you play an instrument or lead in worship? You need to recruit a prayer team. This will not be easy. Our enemy will fight this any way he can. But you will find your prayer team an indispensable source of power in your ministry and in your whole life.

*Last week I put a video on Pray Network about this word.

During this autumn season, I would like to share a guest blog by Cathy Jacobs from “Passing the Legacy” ministry. Cathy shares with us that God has called grandparents for Such A Time As This. God wants grandparents to leave a godly legacy for their grand children with their prayers and pass on their faith in Jesus Christ.

If you are a grand parent with a “heart full” of grand children  -- whether they live down the street or across the county….

If you are a “grand parent in waiting”  -- that is, waiting for your grown children to get married and have children….

If you are one of those “dear” grand parents who has a special relationship with a young person in your church or in your community….

Then KNOW that God has called you for such a time as this! 

It is not an accident, nor incident, that you are in this position.  The Lord created YOU for this role.  What God has designed and created, He is fully capable of equipping.  He desires more than we can imagine for us, the GRAND parents, to pour out our influence, values and beliefs onto the next generations.

            Your grand children and “grown children” live in a turbulent world  -- one that is very different from the world that you and I grew up in.  It is a world that does not believe in an absolute Truth.  Instead, the belief is that everything is relative.  Each person is to figure for himself what he believes to be true.  It might be biblical?  More than likely, it is not.

            It is urgent today for the older generation to step up to the plate and pass the legacy of faith in Christ to the next generations.  If we don’t speak up, the spiritual healthiness of our families will be diminished.  In the Old Testament we see the spiritual giants of Moses, Joshua and Caleb. But in one generation the presence of the Lord had almost vanished from their community.  Why?  The Bible tells us because the older generation failed to tell the next generation the stories/truths of God.

We MUST tell them!  We must pass our faith in Christ to them!

            Yet, many of us do not feel able to do that!  It isn’t that we don’t have a heart for God’s truth to be in the lives of our children.  In fact, many of us long for our children and grand children to have a tender heart for the Lord.  Our heart has become heavy. We want to tell them.  The issue is that we simply do not know how?

            Pass the Legacy is a ministry designed to encourage and inform grand parents in their God-given role of passing faith in Christ to the next generations.  By studying seven keys, grand parents can learn tools to equip them in sharing God’s love with their families.  The first three keys focus on equipping your heart to reach your child’s heart.  The last four keys give specific tools to enable you to impact your children and grand children.  Never has there been a more important job to do!

            Each of us will leave a legacy to our families.  The question is what kind of legacy will you leave?  By becoming informed and equipped, you can become the courageous GRAND parent God has called you to be and leave a powerful Biblical inheritance to the next generations.

For more information on passing your faith to your children and grand children, go to “Seven Keys for ‘Salty’ Grand Parents” at

http://passthelegacy.wordpress.com

Lillian Penner

National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network

lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

“The man whom heaven helps has friends enough.” (Euripides)

God directs our days—overshadowing when life overwhelms, energizing response-abilities, calming chaos, influencing decisions in puzzling crossroads.

God is our Night Light—inspiring us with nocturnal melodies, illuminating every step by His Word Lamp, protecting us from enemies of our soul lurking in sinister alleys.

God is our Morning Wake-Up Call—igniting enthusiasm for His business.

God is our Shepherd—walking ahead, calling our name, training us to recognize His voice. On the less-traveled way, He teaches us lessons we would never learn on other roads.

God is our Traveling Companion—riding with us on life’s roller coaster, Sun of Righteousness when we’re awake, Bright Morning Star when we’re asleep.

Stepping into tomorrow, there’s no need to let anxiety get the best of us. Round the clock, every second, every hour, every heartbeat, from here to eternity—God travels with us 24/7.

“The Lord guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night.” (Exodus 13:21 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

[This devotion based on Day 45 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

Read blog at http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

“God is in control. This is no time for fear—it is a time for faith and determination.

There is a bottom line drawn across the ages. Culture can make its plan, but the line never changes.

No matter how deception may fly, there is one thing that has always been true and will be true forever.

He is still the Lord of all we see, He is still the loving Father watching over everything and you and me.”

(Twila Paris)

If we’re honest, we admit sometimes we find it hard to believe God is in control—

when we are flustered, scared, or confused, not knowing which way to turn;

when we consider the moral corruption rampant in American society;

when we hear predictions of a possible 30-year war against ISIS;

when we’re concerned about the Ebola virus spreading;

when we read about bloody international conflicts;

when we wonder if peace will ever prevail.

Pondering the sadness of the human situation, we wonder—

How did people believe in God during WWI, when 16 million died?

How did people trust God during the Black Death, when 200 million died?

How did people believe in God during the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews died?

“Hominum confusione et Dei providentia Helvetica reqitur”—

a Latin saying that originated in the political unrest of the 16th century,  

“Switzerland is governed by the confusion of men and the providence of God”,

was revived by theologian Karl Barth in the midst of the second World War.

Changing Switzerland to “world”, he stated poignantly the Christian credo of history.

The human race has turned God’s world upside down, but God is still in control.

We dare to believe that someday it will finally be clear to the entire universe.

“Be still, my soul, your God does undertake to guide the future as he has the past.

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last.”

(Katherine von Schlegel)

“This is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—

everything in heaven and on earth.” (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Gentle Whispers From Eternity-Scripture Personalized available from Amazon.com

Prayer is certainly bound together with love. Prayer is the expression of love. And love ought to be the motivation for our prayers. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus commanded His followers, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” You do not love your enemies, if you are not praying for them. And prayer is a powerful means of developing love for those who are difficult to love. I believe it is an expression of love to pray for someone you bitterly dislike, simply out of obedience. Because God has told you to someone, you struggle to ask Him to work in her life. But as you carry that out day by day, the love of Christ for that person will grow in your heart and mind.

I would like you to try this exercise. Make a list of people you have trouble loving. Maybe it is someone who wronged you or someone you care about. Maybe it is a person whose attitudes or behavior you do not approve. The very thought of them irritates you. Most of us can come up with a list of 4 or 5 such people off the top of our heads. You may ask God to bring such people to your mind. When you have the list, take time to pray for these people every day for a week. You may be tempted to pray for God to bring them into judgment, but you don't want to pray that kind of prayer for someone Jesus died to redeem. I think it is acceptable to begin by praying for God to change them or bring them to repentance.  From there you can ask God to show you how to pray for them. At the end of the week take an assessment of your attitude toward them. It will have changed. You will be drawn nearer to the heart of God.

http://daveswatch.com/

I have an answer for you. I was a frustrated long distance grandparent with little involvement in the lives of my grandchildren. However, God showed me how I could impact the lives of my grandchildren by purposefully praying for them, if they lived nearby or faraway.

God gave me a passion to intentionally pray for my grandchildren. Now I want to share with you five benefits I found in the book I authored titled, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren.

¥ Suggestions to imprint another generation with the message of God’s faithfulness.

¥ Bridge the distance between me and my grandchildren with prayer

¥ Creative resources to grandparent with a purpose

¥ Examples of Scriptures to pray

¥ How to develop a Photo Prayer Journal

Endorsement: “The best gift that you can give to your grandchildren is the timeless gift of prayer. Grandparenting with a Purpose will encourage you to pray for your grandchildren. It will also provide concrete examples on how to do so. Page by page, you will be inspired to stand in the gap and be a prayer warrior for your loved ones.”-Nancy Ann Yeager, author of A Grandmother’s Guide to Praying for Her Family and Mother’s Prayers for Her Children

This book won’t make you the perfect grandparent, however, it will give you resources for prayer, communication to grandparent with a purpose. As a result of writing this book I was made more aware of grandparenting with a purpose by the way I live my life and intentionally praying for my nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and their parents. I am the National Prayer Coordinator of Christian Grandparenting Network and eager to share these resources in the book Grandparenting with Purpose.

Now you are at the point of making a decision:

Are you going to learn how you can Grandparent with a Purpose?

The soft cover book, Grandparenting with Purpose retails for $11.99 plus shipping. At this time I have a special offer of $11.00 including shipping in the U.S. I will include a prayer card of “Suggestions to Pray for Children in School: Preschool, Elementary, High School and college.” 

The eBook is available for $9.95 on Amazon.

To Buy Now: Go to http://www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com click on the Purchase button, complete order form, and the book and bonus will be shipped immediately for orders in the U.S.

This book is an excellent suggestion for a Christmas gift for a grandparent, especially a long distance grandparent.

For foreign orders I would suggst that you purchase the book in eBook form from Amazon.

Lillian Penner

National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network

One of the best things about the discipline of praying for organized lists of people is that God impresses me with difficult people to pray for. It strains my prayer life to pray for people I do not necessarily like. It stretches my faith to pray for people whom I can hardly imagine changing.

I pray daily for family members who have ruined their lives and the lives of others I love. And I find myself asking, "How could God straighten out the mess they have made?" I also pray for people with whom I fiercely disagree. I know I could not change their minds. Can God change their hearts or mine? I am often doubtful when I come to the names of some of these people. I have begun saying, "I am taking this person to You, Father. You can do anything."

This seems to be enough to ease the anxiety of my unbelief. The key to strengthening our faith is in recognizing the greatness and nearness of God. This prayer not only rests in His great power, but also on His ability to understand the complex problems people are facing. I do not necessarily believe this is strong faith, but focusing on God is certainly the step of faith I need in praying for difficult people and circumstances.

http://daveswatch.com/

When you find you’re competing for the minds and hearts of your grandchildren with the draws of the world, how do you grandparents get into the competition?

In a recent survey I found that one of the most difficult challenges grandparents face today is having a strong desire to influence your grandchildren in a positive way and having the parents oppose you.

The world’s evil forces continually pull at us and at our children and grandchildren. It’s up to us grandparents to make the most of every opportunity we have with our grandkids, especially if we don’t get to see them often. Each time we are together with your grandchildren, be sure to ask the Lord what His will is for that particular visit. He may have steps for you to take in your seed planting that will result in a great harvest.

“Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Ephesians 5:15-17.

The most troubling news is that more and more younger non-Christians perceive Christianity in a negative way.  It’s likely that your grandchildren’s friends and classmates will only serve to undermine the spiritual values you’ve tried to impart. Receiving godly influences from other family will be an important step in your grandchildren’s spiritual growth.

However, I have an answer for you if you are being challenged in your grandparenting. The book Grandparenting Through Obstacles by Renee Gray Wilburn and Diane E. Butts will encourage you to effectively influence your grandchildren to Christ. Who knows how your grandchild may impact her generation. The book is available at Amazon.com. (see below)*

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Enable me to continually walk in Your patience and unconditional love toward my family, and teach me how to stay full of Your joy

so I can persevere through the trials I face.

 In Jesus’ name. Amen 

http://www.amazon.com/Grandparenting-Through-Obstacles-Overcoming-Grandchildren/dp/1938092171/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411653796&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Grandparenting+through+Obstacles+Dianne+E.+Btts

“To be individually righteous is the first of all duties, come what may to one’s self, to one’s country, to society, and to civilization itself.” (Joseph Krutch, 1964)

“If you don’t mind my saying so” people state before voicing their opinions. But the following thoughts are not merely my opinions—they are convictions based on the Scriptures.

Believers in Jesus Christ are different from infidels. Forgiven by heaven’s flawless Lamb, belonging to God in a personal way, they are compelled to live with moral excellence.The middle cross eternally separates repentance from derision, faith from skepticism, and paradise from perdition.

Believers in Jesus Christ are distinguished by humility. “Movers and shakers” have no time to listen to God’s Word and no inclination to live His way. But followers of Christ reverence Him and attempt to emulate His humble lifestyle.

Believers in Jesus Christ are characterized by integrity. Inspired by grace, they run from pleasures others run to. Taught by faith, they anticipate Christ’s coronation as Monarch of the universe. Charmed by holiness, they cry their heart out over wrongs committed. Humbled by God’s power, they lean on His everlasting arms. Instructed by experience, they seek to honor the Lord. Trained to think like Christ, they live in tension with society’s perverted values. Juxtaposed by darkness, they sparkle like a diamond on black velvet.

Believers in Jesus Christ sing a different melody. With Jesus topping their charts, they credit Him with strength to persevere and rehearse heaven’s theme song of victory.

Believers in Jesus Christ live with hope. In contrast to the despairing world, they detect the first gleam of a sunrise of hope. Hearing echoes of the New World Symphony, they feel the Spirit Wind unfurling new Jerusalem’s flag. Celebrating the future’s faint overture, they are beginning to learn how to dance for joy.

Everything about Christians is different because of Christ.

I am deeply concerned about the future of America and the world; but whatever happens to me, my country, or civilization, I want to always be true to Jesus Christ.

“Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.” (Exodus 11:7 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

[This devotion based on Day 44 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

Gentle Whispers From Eternity-Scripture Personalized available from Amazon.com

“Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.” (Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895)

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three neuroscientists whose work is answering the question why we know where we are and where we’re headed.

John O’Keefe (University College, London), May-Britt Moser (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), and Edward Moser (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) have discovered cells that form a positioning system in the human brain, kind of a hard-wired GPS. These cells tell us our physical location, help us navigate our direction, and help us remember it so we can make the same trips again. These neuroscientists have figured out that two types of cells – called place cells and grid cells -- work in harmony to make the brain know where it is and where it’s going.

Memory and orientation are critically important for both our physical and spiritual well-being. If we couldn’t remember pleasant places we’ve been, how could we repeat the journey? If we can’t remember mistakes we’ve made, how can we learn from history? If we aren’t aware of our coordinates, how can we find our way home?

In one sense, “we make the road by walking” (Spanish poet Antonio Machado, 1875-1939). In a higher sense, we find the right road by praying.

With our brain, we find our bearings. With our heart, we find our beliefs.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

My grandchildren range in age from 11 to 32 years but now I have 2 great-granddaughters less than 18 months so I am again praying for infants and toddlers. If you have infants and/or toddlers you may appreciate these suggestions of how to pray for them.

For Infants, pray they will:

1. Develop a strong sense of security as they bond with their family.

2. Feel safe and secure in their surroundings.

3. Grow physically strong and mentally alert.

4. Begin to lay a healthy foundation for good communication.

5. Begin to develop a healthy attachment to their family members.

For Toddlers, pray they will:

1. Develop a healthy self-image.

2. Develop a sense of independence.

3. Develop a sense of obedience to their parents.

4. Be willing to try new, unfamiliar experiences.

5. Feel secure apart from parents (i.e.caregivers).

6. Learn to play independently.

I would appreciate it if you would give additional suggestions of how to pray for these dear little infants and toddlers.

By Lillian Penner

Christian Grandparenting Network has a passion to encourage and equip grandparents to pray for their grandchildren. Our mission is to challenge grandparents around the world to intentionally and regularly come together to pray, interceding for their grandchildren, children and 

communities. In the Pray! Magazine, Arlyn Lawrence writes, “Intercession is one of the ways God designed for us to partner with Him in bringing His loving presence into our aching world.”¹    

Therefore, we have organized “Grandparents@Prayer” (G@P) intercessory prayer groups. Our goal is to encourage grandpar

ents to be prayer warriors through the personal discipline of intercessory prayer in the battle against the enemy. We encourage grandparents to meet together in small or large groups on a regular basis to unite in p

rayer at a designated location for 1 hour or so of guided prayer and fellowship.

In Isaiah 58:6 we read that we can “loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke” in our world. One of the ways we can break these chains is by “standing in the gap” for our dear grandchildren.  Just as Esther s

tood in the gap for her people, the Jews, when they were physically threatened. Today grandparents can stand in the gap with prayer for their grandchildren as the enemy threatens their spiritual lives

We now have a number of G@P intercessory groups meeting in about 20 states, Canada and South Africa in retirement Centers, scho

ols, churches and homes.  We would like to see the 50 G@P groups

by the end of the year. Some of the groups meet weekly, some twice a month or once a month, whatever the group desires.  

I want to challenge you to ask God whom He would like you to ask to pray with you for each other’s grandchildren. Ask your friends, chu

rch senior group, neighbors, family members or whomever. If you are interested I will be happy to send you helpful guidelines and resources to help you get started, email me at www.christiangrandparenting.net.

The legacy of a praying grandparent will live on forever

1      Arlyn Lawrence, “It’s Not Just Who You Are-It’s Who You Know”, Pray! Magazine, Nov/Dec 2008, p.20. Colorado Springs, CO

By Lillian Penner

National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network

Kingdom Greetings Prayer Partners,

It gives me great pleasure to announce to you the "Spiritual Warfare Series" that will occur on Friday nights this month on the Prayer is my Passion Prayer line.

We will be having in depth Teachings on various topics relating to Spiritual Warfare and then we will climax on Friday, October 31, 2014 with Strategic Prophetic Warfare Prayer.

Time: 9pm Eastern, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, 6pm Pacific

Teleconference Dial in # 1-218-632-06501-218-632-0650 Access Code: 8888#

(please press *6 to self mute your phone to eliminate background noise)

Our Schedule:

Friday, October 3, 2014 - Pastor Lisa Martin will be speaking on "The Spirit of Divination and the Python Spirit"

Friday, October 10, 2014 - Evangelist Kimberly Frye is our Guest Speaker and she will be speaking on "Exposing Witchcraft"

Friday, October 17, 2014 - Apostle Mary Thomas will be our Guest Speaker and she will be speaking on "Familiar Spirits"

Friday, October 24, 2014 - Prophet Katina Donaldson will be our Guest Speaker and she will be speaking on "Dethroning Jezebel"

Pastor Lisa Martin aka Virtuous Lady

Host & Visionary of

Prayer is my Passion Intercessory Prayer Ministry

http://prayerismypassion.webs.com

For more information or to submit a Prayer request please call the Ministry Voicemail at 641-715-3900641-715-3900 X16052# or email prayerismypassion@yahoo.com

Most Believers cling firmly to the promise of God in Romans 8:28. I am no exception. But it is important to note that this promise is linked with the promise in verse 26 of God's help in our prayers. Am I saying the promise only applies if you are praying about your difficult circumstances? No, I am not saying that. But I do believe God will use difficult circumstances to teach you to pray. Growing your prayer life is part of the good God is working in your life.

God's work in your life depends on His teaching you to pray. The Spirit's intercession for us informs our understanding.  I suppose the Spirit prays things for me without my understanding. I want God to help me keep my job, but the Holy Spirit is praying for me to learn to trust God to care for my family. He may even be praying for God to move me to a place where I will have a greater witness. However, the primary way the Spirit prays in me includes growing my understanding. He shows me Scripture verses or simply whispers into my heart. In John 15:15 Jesus said He no longer calls us servants because a servant does not know what his master is doing. He works in me, teaching me to pray for things that I would never have longed for without His intervention in my life including my thinking and praying.

http://daveswatch.com/

Heart Considerations –do they affect our responses with others?

Tonight, my wife and I watched an episode of the Walton’s.  It was an interesting story.  The father was offered a very nice price for their land and the story showed him looking at all that was involved with considering the offer.  What impressed me the most was, he wanted to hear what his family actually thought about selling the place and moving.  There are two ways of speaking, head speaking or heart speaking.  Mr. Walton wanted to hear the heart.  Finally, one of the children spoke up and shared from their heart.

As my wife and I reflected on that movie, we considered that when Mr. Walton wanted to hear from the heart of his children, he was also teaching them something very important.   We get our concept of God often from the response of our fathers.  If they were not personally interested in us it affects how we view God—we might then view God as just someone very distant.  But when our fathers show an interest in what interests us and our concerns—that shows that God is personally interested in us.  

I grew up with a father who loved us, but I can remember only a few times that he actually listened to us.  I have a brother who has turned away from following the Lord.  He is my only brother, and I have no sisters.

My father is now passed.  Fortunately he knew the Lord.

Today in praying with other men on a conference call, I sensed that my concern and response to my brother may be a way that God is showing my brother that God is concerned about him.  I remember a few years back, there was a crisis—that affected our nation—and my brother had at one time helped the person that was directly in the crisis.  My brother asked me to use my contacts in the prayer arena, to pray about the divide in our country that caused the crisis.  I have not forgotten it, and have encouraged others to pray about it.  One place seemed to come close to doing a story on it, but the news focus suddenly changed, and that story was dropped.  In essence what that action said was that they really did not care about heart issues.   I share what happened, because to show God’s concern to others—we need to hear the heart and respond to the heart cry.  When we don’t, it sends a communication that what happened really does not matter, and that can hurt our confidence that God is interested in us.  When we respond out of concern to heart cries, it can send a good message that God does care.

I for one want to seek the Lord to help me respond with my heart to my brother’s heart cries.  Perhaps then he will see from my action (with the help of God’s Holy Spirit) that God is concerned about him, and encourage him to turn back to the Lord.  That is my prayer.

I would appreciate hearing from others how they developed their concept from God--and the impact of family members on what we think of God.

“I know that when things don’t go well they like to blame the Presidents, and that is one of the things which Presidents are paid for.” (John F. Kennedy)

According to the Gallup Poll, President Barack Obama’s job approval rating reached its high point (67%) in January 2009, and its low point (38%) September 2^nd 2014. His most recent weekly average (September 15-21) was 43%.

Gallup historical comparisons indicate the average for U.S. presidents between 1938-2014 was 53%. Other presidents in the second September after re-election had the following ratings: George W. Bush (42%), Bill Clinton (64%), Ronald Reagan (62%), Lyndon Johnson (46%), Dwight Eisenhower (56%), Harry Truman (35%).

We can only imagine the weight of the burdens our president carries on his shoulders, and the intensity of the decision-making responsibilities he experiences in his mind. Degrading and destroying ISIS in order to protect America has become one of his top priorities, and may bring him nightmares. Concerns about continuing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria occupy his days. Halting the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa, building a coalition to combat radical terrorist groups, addressing worrisome national economic issues, and a thousand other problems constantly demand his attention. Dwight Eisenhower remarked, “no easy problems ever come to the President of the United States; if they are easy to solve, somebody else has solved them.”

In an interview on last night’s CBS “60 Minutes”, President Obama acknowledged that he had underestimated the strength of ISIS and overestimated the fighting ability of Iraqi troops. He will take flak for that, just like he did for stating a couple of weeks ago that he did not have a strategy for fighting ISIS (which he obviously quickly remedied).

How can the President possibly please all the people of America? Obviously, he cannot. Human approval is as changeable as the weather. Approval ratings are a roller-coaster, volatile as the Stock Market.  Adlai Stevenson said, “You know how it is in an election year; they pick a president and then for four years they pick on him.”

We may not always approve of our president, but it is not appropriate to be disrespectful. Scripture reminds us that all governing authority comes from God, that those in positions of authority have been providentially placed, and to rebel against authority is tantamount to rebelling against God (Romans 13:1-2).

We may not always approve of our president, but we should not be dismissive because we didn’t vote for him. We may not like his policies, but he is still President.

We may not always approve of our president, but we should not make derogatory remarks about him.

However we rate our president, we should pray for him—that he would seek to please God, not be driven by political ambition (Colossians 3:23); that he would seek divine wisdom to govern properly, knowing and doing what is right (1 Kings 3:7-9); that he would govern with integrity whatever the approval ratings; that God would protect him and his family from all harm; that he would be strengthened by grace to persevere in his role as the leader of this nation where we are privileged to breathe deeply the sweet air of freedom.

“Pray this way (ask God to help him, intercede on his behalf, give thanks for him) for all who are in authority so we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Christian preacher and writer

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

The quote hung on my wall as a teen-ager. I would not know much about the author until Seminary days when his name was prominent on reading lists. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference,” so wrote Reinhold Niebuhr in his Serenity Prayer. American theologian, and professor at Union Theological Seminary for more than 30 years, Niebuhr offered me my first motto. Over the years I would learn that there were many more things that I could not change than there were that I could change. I found a fine line between serenity - the state of being calm, peaceful, untroubled and acquiescence - the reluctant acceptance of something without protest. Sometimes I didn’t know which I had experienced until after the fact. Courage was different - the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear. Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). In my early, eager years, I mostly needed serenity. Today, I need courage. The Lord has been ever-present with me in both.

Read more from Dr. Dan at www.discipleallnations.org/blog.

“The will of the one who sent us is that we be the one who was sent. What we do is meant to be lived out of the context of discovering and becoming the person we are.” (Robert Benson, Between the Dreaming and the Coming True)

Mount Nittany is the highest place in our city. When I look across the valley from up there, I see homes, businesses, and schools; I see bars, streets, and stadiums; and I see cars on the highway and planes in the sky. And I wonder about the peoples’ lives.

How many want something more? How many go to church, but sit quietly in their pews, have given up on reaching their neighbors, and simply work their jobs and go home to watch television? They don’t go beyond their own lives and their families.

But in faith I see something more—I see city-wide pray-ers. Even if they don’t yet see themselves that way. But that’s why I see it in faith. Faith enables us to believe while we wait for the reality to manifest.

Now imagine identifying the spiritual strongholds of a city, say loneliness or poverty. According to Ed Silvoso in That None Shall Perish, a spiritual stronghold is “a mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable, situations that we know are contrary to the Will of God.” Strongholds are spiritual in origin but have natural consequences. A stronghold of loneliness might cause binge drinking or sexual promiscuity, for example.

When individual pray-ers in a city learn their best prayer types and begin to practice them with authority, they grow in their walk with God. Not only that, they begin to talk with God about their neighbors and begin walking through open doors to minister to them. But not only that, when people join prayers for the city, they confront strongholds with great force and agreement and reestablish the city on God.

People from all over the city come together, praying in their particular voices. There are thanksgiving pray-ers and warfare pray-ers and intercessors. The Bible is prayed and so is praise and also confession, all united in agreement prayer. This is a true concert of prayer!

Before they learned their prayer types, they never saw themselves as city pray-ers. They were living their solitary lives in boredom and frustration, wanting to be part of something more but not knowing how or what. But now they take their place in bringing God’s kingdom to the city. And when the city is changed, the nation can be changed and the ends of the earth. How does this happen? By one prayer at a time, and one person at a time.

City-wide prayer is strengthened and widened when individual pray-ers find their best prayer types and join them on behalf of the city.

It may be by faith, but when I look across the city, I see the people of God, a spiritual house, a royal priesthood. I see prayers on their hearts, waiting to be prayed. I see angels at attention, waiting to be dispatched. I see miracles on hold, waiting to be performed. They’re all across the city, just waiting to be released.

They’re waiting for the ones who were sent to become the ones they are.

Find your own best prayer types through Made To Pray.