Faithfulness to God and seeking His will for our lives is a daily part of our faith journey. Being a faithful Christian, being true to your church and your family, is a wonderful calling that God has given to you.
I want to encourage you with these words from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior: "With God all things are possible." Mark 10:27 For those of you who may be faced with what seems like a mountain, I am here to declare to you that through Christ we have the power to move Mountains. Let your faith be renewed and strengthened for whatever may lie ahead. Know that your God will not leave you through the hard times but he will be there each step of the way. (Matthew 28:20)
The Bible teaches us "In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6
It is important to include God in every aspect of your life. Pray over all descisions that need to be made. Pray with your pastor and with other CHristianas you trust. Acknowledge that God is there and you want His guidance and you can be certain that He will not lead you wrong.
Don't let Satan overwhelm you with doubts. There may be valleys but the Lord will walk beside you and he will bring you out of them. My prayer is that your faith today will be strengthened for the battles that may lie ahead of you . My hope is that this promise will ring in your memory every day that "With God all things are possible".
God will not fail you. We may fail Him, but he will be there to forgive and guide us when we do. My prayer is that you will seek Him and look to Him. We know not what the future may bring but as the song says "I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand"
No matter what the obstacle, it is not to big for God. Be strengthened and encouraged by the example of Jesus Christ. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and comforted by His presence. May your faith be renewed in a God that cannot and will not fail you. May the Spirit help you to overcome Satans darts of discouragement and any hopelessness you may feel.
I have seen God's power still at work in this past year. We have seen many prayers answered. We have seen sick people have a complete turn around in health, wonderful things have happened because of the power of prayer... with God all things are possible.
Never give up! There is hope in Christ. Our God is an awesome God and you are the apple of His eye. He has promised he will never leave us no matter what may come, no matter what we have done he is a forgiving God and when we repent and ask him to forgive us, then he is just and merciful and compassionate to us -- and we need to be that way to each other (Mark 11:22-26). Cast your cares upon Him for He careth for you!
Let us know if we can be of help to you, especially if we can pray with you. Our prayer and desire is always to be a help to someone. May God bless richly.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
With God All Things Are Possible
With God all things are possible
The Lord is Great and Mighty.
He is able to do all things and all things are subject to Him.
With Him all things are possible and nothing is impossible.
He is able to save to the uttermost and no one is so far gone that the Lord cannot save him.
His Ways are past finding out, yet His Spirit is able to reveal all things to us.
There is no truth so deep that He cannot teach it to us, for He is able to teach us all things by His Spirit by simply bringing it to our remembrance.
There is no pit so deep that He cannot lift us out of it.
There is no problem so difficult that He cannot solve it.
Put your whole trust in the Lord, for He is able to protect you and defend you.
The Lord is Great and Mighty.
"With God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
The Lord is Great and Mighty.
He is able to do all things and all things are subject to Him.
With Him all things are possible and nothing is impossible.
He is able to save to the uttermost and no one is so far gone that the Lord cannot save him.
His Ways are past finding out, yet His Spirit is able to reveal all things to us.
There is no truth so deep that He cannot teach it to us, for He is able to teach us all things by His Spirit by simply bringing it to our remembrance.
There is no pit so deep that He cannot lift us out of it.
There is no problem so difficult that He cannot solve it.
Put your whole trust in the Lord, for He is able to protect you and defend you.
The Lord is Great and Mighty.
"With God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
Thoughts on Prayer
Prayer is the heartbeat of Christianity. A good prayer to begin your prayers with is: ‘Lord, please speak to me: your servant is listening…’
Another truth is this one -- ‘If you’re too busy to pray you’re too busy…’ Other truths to contemplate -- ‘Prayer should make you joyful…’ ‘When it’s hardest to pray is the time to pray hardest’ ‘More prayer, more power…’ ‘Pray as if all things are possible with God, because the Scripture says they are!' (Mark 10:27)
Our prayer life reflects who we are as Christians. Our prayer is the best measure of the integrity of our Christian life, the best index of our relationships – with God, others, self, ministry. Prayer is friendship and communication with God. So… prayer is about Who we are... Who God is...and who we are in Christ.
God (in Christ) reveals His will through Scripture, Spirit guided Reason, through the history and the authority of the Church, and through our own faith experience.
Jesus is our pattern for ministry - to God and for the world. Close communion with the Father was at the heart of all he was and did. As his disciples saw this reality they wanted to be part of it (why don't more people ask us to teach them to pray?). His prayer-life was disciplined and ordered, although he too, was busy. It begins with a contemplation of God - 'Our Father' - before moving to human need. He prays hard before important decisions, like choosing the twelve.
His meditation on Scripture gives strength in times of testing, particularly when the devil wants him to do ministry another way. Time is found for prayer - 40 days, a whole night, very early in the morning: hurry is the death of prayer. Be still and know He is God! (Pslam 46:10)
Focus your prayers on God and others, then your own self. Nowhere does Jesus pray 'to feel good'or is in any way self centered: for Him, and for us, the key thing is obedience and service to God and church adn community.
Another truth is this one -- ‘If you’re too busy to pray you’re too busy…’ Other truths to contemplate -- ‘Prayer should make you joyful…’ ‘When it’s hardest to pray is the time to pray hardest’ ‘More prayer, more power…’ ‘Pray as if all things are possible with God, because the Scripture says they are!' (Mark 10:27)
Our prayer life reflects who we are as Christians. Our prayer is the best measure of the integrity of our Christian life, the best index of our relationships – with God, others, self, ministry. Prayer is friendship and communication with God. So… prayer is about Who we are... Who God is...and who we are in Christ.
God (in Christ) reveals His will through Scripture, Spirit guided Reason, through the history and the authority of the Church, and through our own faith experience.
Jesus is our pattern for ministry - to God and for the world. Close communion with the Father was at the heart of all he was and did. As his disciples saw this reality they wanted to be part of it (why don't more people ask us to teach them to pray?). His prayer-life was disciplined and ordered, although he too, was busy. It begins with a contemplation of God - 'Our Father' - before moving to human need. He prays hard before important decisions, like choosing the twelve.
His meditation on Scripture gives strength in times of testing, particularly when the devil wants him to do ministry another way. Time is found for prayer - 40 days, a whole night, very early in the morning: hurry is the death of prayer. Be still and know He is God! (Pslam 46:10)
Focus your prayers on God and others, then your own self. Nowhere does Jesus pray 'to feel good'or is in any way self centered: for Him, and for us, the key thing is obedience and service to God and church adn community.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Teamwork in Our Prayer Life
Every great work in the Church begins with someone on their knees. Tap into the power of God through prayer.
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family." Romans 8:28-29.
A minister friend of mine sent me the following inspiring devotional story:
On the Military Channel you can watch programs such as the training for those who desire to become Navy SEALS. This includes many physical and mental stresses. One training is called "Old Misery." Exhausted, wet, and hungry teams of men hoist "Old Misery" (a 400 hundred pound log) onto their aching shoulders and then carry it up and down the beach. When one man stumbles, his teammates immediately help him up, carrying his portion of "Old Misery" until he is steady on his feet, and encouraging him to finish the task.
Each man knows the value of teamwork and how the load increases exponentially when one man stumbles. What a clear picture of God allowing struggles in our lives as a way to keep our attention focused on the mission to be conformed to the likeness of His son. Pain and struggles can be tools God uses them to shape and prune us. This "sanctification process" begins when we first ask Christ to enter our lives and ends when we meet Him face to face in heaven.
In times of struggles our true convictions, my faith and commitment are tested. It's easy for me to say, "Praise God, isn't He good," when things are peaceful. But when struggles enter my life, what I really believe about God becomes evident in my thoughts, words, and actions. The wonderful part of the promise is that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit there to cheer us on, we have companions who will carry our share of the load when we stumble, and we can return the favor when our brother or sister stumbles.
As you encounter your own "Old Misery" situations, remember you are not alone. The Lord has provided His Holy Spirit to help you carry the load and He will place people in your life that will help you and encourage you to finish the task of becoming more Christ-like. That way, you and I can live the command of Ephesians 4:1, "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." Please pray for your church and its members on a regular basis. Begin by asking God if there is anything blocking your prayers, or keeping you from spending time each day with Him in prayer. Sometimes unforgiveness is a block upon your prayers (Mark 11:22-26). IF there is a block. get rid of it. Your prayer life is too important to harbor grudges and unforgiveness.
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family." Romans 8:28-29.
A minister friend of mine sent me the following inspiring devotional story:
On the Military Channel you can watch programs such as the training for those who desire to become Navy SEALS. This includes many physical and mental stresses. One training is called "Old Misery." Exhausted, wet, and hungry teams of men hoist "Old Misery" (a 400 hundred pound log) onto their aching shoulders and then carry it up and down the beach. When one man stumbles, his teammates immediately help him up, carrying his portion of "Old Misery" until he is steady on his feet, and encouraging him to finish the task.
Each man knows the value of teamwork and how the load increases exponentially when one man stumbles. What a clear picture of God allowing struggles in our lives as a way to keep our attention focused on the mission to be conformed to the likeness of His son. Pain and struggles can be tools God uses them to shape and prune us. This "sanctification process" begins when we first ask Christ to enter our lives and ends when we meet Him face to face in heaven.
In times of struggles our true convictions, my faith and commitment are tested. It's easy for me to say, "Praise God, isn't He good," when things are peaceful. But when struggles enter my life, what I really believe about God becomes evident in my thoughts, words, and actions. The wonderful part of the promise is that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit there to cheer us on, we have companions who will carry our share of the load when we stumble, and we can return the favor when our brother or sister stumbles.
As you encounter your own "Old Misery" situations, remember you are not alone. The Lord has provided His Holy Spirit to help you carry the load and He will place people in your life that will help you and encourage you to finish the task of becoming more Christ-like. That way, you and I can live the command of Ephesians 4:1, "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." Please pray for your church and its members on a regular basis. Begin by asking God if there is anything blocking your prayers, or keeping you from spending time each day with Him in prayer. Sometimes unforgiveness is a block upon your prayers (Mark 11:22-26). IF there is a block. get rid of it. Your prayer life is too important to harbor grudges and unforgiveness.
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