God Really Isn't Finished With Me Yet

I last wrote about witnessing. It's been on my mind for quite some time. Put there by the Holy Spirit no doubt! I recently had a chance to witness to a family member and it was an amazing experience. I prayed about it often and then again just before I opened my mouth to speak. I could FEEL the presence of the Holy Spirit with me. I had no idea what to say, I did not feel competent to share scripture that would not come out in a preachy way. When I opened my mouth, I felt compelled to simply share what God has done for me. I said that God has saved my marriage and rescued me from depression and gave me a more meaningful life of hope and peace. I think it made an impact on my family member. I hope I planted a seed that will lead to more growth. I left a copy of a book that I dearly love in hopes that it will be read and answer some questions. The Case For Faith by Lee Strobel answers some questions that this family member has, like: I don't understand all the suffering in our world. And, I'm not sure I believe that Jesus is the only way to go to heaven, what about all the good people who aren't Christians, what about the millions who have never heard of him? I attempted to answer his questions on the phone a few weeks ago, but I felt so inadequate to do so. God isn't finished with me yet, how can I help someone else? My minister gave me some resources to help and has been praying for me and my family. I don't know how to articulate it but God IS WORKING ON THIS. I can feel it, I know it in my very heart.

In my conversations with family I experienced a renewed sense of how much God has done, is doing, and will continue to do with me. What a marvelous blessing to have our creator love us so much that He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and help us grow and feel his love!

Witnessing

I was reading Revelation yesterday and again, I felt the Holy Spirit's nudg about witnessing. When discusing witnessing in Bible Study the other day, Judy mentioned that we should write down our stories. She's right, sharing what God had done for us doesn't have to be any big dramatic event. Your own story, or testimony, is the best witness you can share. It is not just teaching Bible truths. It is "being" a product of those truths. In other words, don't just say it, be and do it.

You are a witness. Think about it, when a person has experienced the forgiveness of his sins, he is then able give testimony to the salvation that is mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. They said, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). You are able to witness about Jesus, because you have met Him personally.

Witnessing is telling others about the love, forgiveness, deliverance, fruitful life that you have found in Jesus. Jesus' last instructions to His disciples before He ascended were about witnessing. He told them to make disciples in all the world, and to baptize and teach them. He promised them that when they received the Holy Spirit, they would be powerful witnesses of Him.

Don't be afraid to write a short story of something God has done for you. The Lord will confirm your witness, just as He did the witness of His apostles. Remember, Jesus said, “And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” If you feel timid or unsure of your ability to witness remember that the authority to witness is from Jesus (Matthew 28:19, 20). The power and boldness to witness is given by the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17-20; Acts 1:8). If you don't feel as though you have a particular story of something God has done in your life, share the simple truth that "God loves you. Jesus saves all who come to Him in repentance of sin and who have faith in Him. He gives life (John 10:10), equips for living through the Holy Spirit, and He is coming again."

The commetary in the NIV Study Bible on Revelation 11:10-13 reminds us what we are called by God to do. “We seldom face the possibility of death when we share our faith. Why should Satan threaten our lives when fear of embarrassment or rejection is enough to keep us silent? If Jesus has truly changed our lives, we will find a way to let others know. Not to witness represents more than just fear; it also reveals selfishness. Have those near you heard what Jesus has done for you?”

Pray that God will help you in witnessing. You may have to pray to be released from fear or feelings of not knowing enough or not being good enough to share Jesus with others. Pray that you want to be bold and free to share your faith with whomever may be open to hear it during your daily life.

SCRIPTURE ON WITNESSING

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Romans 10:13-15

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Ravi Zacharias

Interesting message.

Ravi Zacharias on the Christian View of Homosexuality #Apologetics

Making Prayers Fresh and New

While listening to Christian radio today, I heard Dr. Edwin Lutzer talk about how we need to renew our minds on how to pray. He mentioned how little time most Christians spend in prayer and the reasons behind the lack of time spent in prayer. Many feel that prayer is boring and that we just keep repeating ourselves, that not much is accomplished.

Lutzer then outlined a method of prayer that really hit home with me, as it involves praying with scripture! We've been talking about this in Bible Study and even discussed compiling various scriptures to use in prayer. Rev. Lutzer told of George Muller who lived in England in the 1800's. He was a Christian evangelist and the director of an orphanage. Muller's devotional life included God's word and meditating on it. He did this each morning upon waking up and by breakfast his mind was in a peaceful, happy place.

Turning the Word into prayer includes ACTS, adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication. Using scripture in prayer ensures:

1. You'll never have to say the same ole' prayer about the same ole' things. Always fresh, always new.
2. God will respond, you can interact with God. He can say something and you can say something.
3. Your soul will be satisfied

An Example With Psalm 23 the red print is an example of what type of thing you could add.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Oh Father, I want to thank you today that Jesus is my Shepherd. Thank you for the privilege of being one of your sheep. I pray that you will make me an obedient sheep. Oh God, make me a good shepherd of the the people that you have entrusted into my care. I'd like to pray for other shepherds in my church.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Father I pray today that you might enable me to be led beside quiet waters, may my soul rest in you, Lord, satisfy my soul with you.

He restoreth my soul:

Lord, I know that so often I am prone to wander. I feel prone to leave the God I love, oh Lord restore me.

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Keep me in the path walking righteously. Guide me along the path you would have me follow, not the path the world follows.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Lord, help me feel your presence daily as I walk in the world's shadows. Help me not to fear troubles I encounter.

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Jesus, you are my shepherd, please help me feel your love and comfort. I love you for providing comfort in this world of trouble.

Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

My cup is not just full but runs over with joy at the prospect of what you have prepared for me in heaven

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lord, as a believer, I know that you will guide and protect me here in earth and when I live in perfect goodness with you in heaven. I'm so thankful to have you with me on my journey through life.

God's Will in Prayer

Prayer has been on my mind for quite a while lately. The more we read the Bible, the more we learn and grow. So many people, myself included, have read isolated scriptures out of context. “Ask and you shall receive” is one. Taken out of context this could be interpreted as whatever you ask for, you get. But, as I said before, God is not a genie in a bottle granting wishes. In order to maintain a close relationship with God we must read His word. If we regularly read God's word and study scripture, we learn we must ask for God's will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that God hears all our prayers. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

God dearly loves us and wants only the best for us. His great, unfathomable love is shown by what he has done for us. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32.

In the garden of Gethsemane the night before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed that the cup be taken from Him. The cup represents separation from God. Jesus also said, AS YOU WILL. Matthew 26:38-39

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” God's will for His own son!

Reading 2 Corinthians 2:9-12 gives some insight to the depth of God's perspective. To adequately put it into human language is impossible. That's why God gave us the Holy Spirit to interpret and give us understanding. God has this grand design, a story consisting of all the people ever created. Our lives intersect and meld together, with man's free will in the story plot as well. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. Often our free will and refusal to obey God gets in the way of His grand story, but He works it out for the good of those who love Him.

When we pray asking for something, we must pray for God's will. He knows best. He will answer our prayer in His way and in His timing. If it's not His will, or is not good for us, He will not give it to us. The Holy Spirit helps us know God's will, but sometimes he may delay our understanding what is will is, in order to accomplish something else in our life. John 16:13 speaks about knowing God's will. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. For me, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is a clear illustration of God's will and how it is always better that our will....because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. God places or allows thorns in our lives to teach us and keep us dependent on Him.

You Can Support Persecuted Christians

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

CSW is a Human Rights Organization that works to defend, uphold and promote the right to freedom of religion or belief in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Through their advocacy, they challenge world leaders to fulfill their duty to protect religious freedom. CSW regularly provides decision-makers in the UK parliament, United Nations, European Union and US Congress with accurate reports on freedom of religion or belief around the world.

Part of the work CSW does includes Connect & Encourage, a publication that provides information and addresses of victims of violence, intimidation or harassment. These people need encouragement and by sending cards and letters of encouragement. Receiving a personal letter reminds each person who gets it that someone, somewhere cares about their suffering.

 I am so convinced that this is such a worthwhile, easy thing we can do to encourage, and witness to others that I am sharing it here, to my Womens' Circle at church and I'm going to expand our Card Ministry to include workshops for creating pretty cards to send to our brothers and sisters who are in such dire need of God's uplifting love through other people. Take a minute to watch this video interview with Dr Garcia Peneque https://youtu.be/V1fSw4meQJc.

"You cannot imagine the worth of a letter. You cannot imagine the worth of some words of encouragement."– Cuban prisoner, speaking to CSW

For someone who's suffering for their faith, often the worst part is feeling alone. But the Connect & Encourage booklet allows others to shine a light into their darkness by writing to them. The booklet provides names and addresses of people around the world who are harassed, imprisoned or tortured for their beliefs. A church under attack in Cuba is the latest group of people who would be greatly encouraged by your message of support.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

“I’m not convinced my card will make a difference to the person who receives it.”

Yes, it really will!

Gloria from Cuba told us, “Sometimes I ran out of the strength to pray myself. In the darkest moments, when we felt totally hopeless, alone and desperate and we couldn’t even pray for ourselves, it was alright because we knew there were people all over holding us up in prayer, when we ourselves could not.”

Imagine thinking you’re facing a horrific situation all alone. Maybe your husband is a church leader who was shot dead after he refused to stop preaching. That’s what happened to Gloria’s husband. Or maybe you’ve been imprisoned because of your faith – and then you get a card from a person on the other side of the world who’s thinking about you. Your cards could be a lifeline in someone’s darkest moments, just like they were for Gloria.

“OK, that’s great, but it won’t really help their situation, will it?”

Yes, it will!

We’ve seen many times that a prisoner’s conditions improve once they start getting post from abroad. They’ve received extra food, more exercise, and much-needed medical care – as a direct result of your cards and letters. What’s more, Pastor Truong in Vietnam was able to share his faith with his prison guards after they asked him why he was getting so many cards!

If a prisoner receives lots of post from abroad, the prison authorities know that people outside the country have heard about this prisoner’s case, so they can’t get away with mistreating the prisoner.

“But I don’t know what to write.”

We’ve made it easy for you! Here are some guidelines:

• Just write a little bit about yourself – where you live, what the area is like, your family, your hobbies, and so on.
• Most of the people in Connect & Encourage are Christians, so you could write an encouraging Bible verse in the card, and some Christian greetings such as ‘God bless you’ and ‘May the Lord be with you’.
• Even if the person who gets your card can’t read English, receiving it will still encourage them by reminding them that they’re not forgotten.
• Writing relevant Bible references is useful for non-English speakers so they can look up the verses in their own language. Free online translator: https://www.babelfish.com/
• If you’re happy to receive a reply, it’s safe to include your name and address on the cards. Many people have developed rewarding relationships in this way, by writing to and hearing from people who suffer because of their faith.

HERE'S HOW
You’ll find answers to a few more questions you may have, inside Connect & Encourage. Download it today and get it writing!

Praying With Scripture

We have been taling about prayer in our current Bible Study and several of us thought that coming up with some prayers based on scripture for various topics would be a great thing to have on hand. We can of course use them ourselves, but also share them. I've started compling scripture in categories and wil use this as a base from which to write the prayers. I probably won't use all of the verses on the list, but it's a p;ace to start. As we finish our list of prayers, I'll publish them here on the blog.

Here is a PDF file of the full document.

A Sample of the document below:

Anxiety, Worry and Depression

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
• Trust in him at all times, O' people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
• Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than day? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:26-27
• Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7
• Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Grief

• Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. Isaiah 57:1-2
• And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10

Making Disciples As We Go

In Priscilla Shirer's book, Jonah, she calls us to make disciples. Here is a good article to help you share the Good News. It's short and uses Jesus' method of evangelizing, asking questions!
https://www.thegoodbook.com/blog/usefulresources/2016/09/20/four-steps-to-turning-conversations-to-christ/

God is Not a Genie in a Bottle

People often think of God as a genie in a bottle ready to grant us all our wishes. They go to God in prayer with their shopping list of wants. Many people read the scriptures below and take the meaning literally, out of context.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. John 14:13

Matthew Henry, the great British theologian explained that the words in these passages of scripture above. It is assumed that we ask for good gifts, and that we ask as Christ has taught us, in His name and according to His spirit. Otherwise we may ask and not receive, because what we ask for is unsuitable, not quite right, or out of place, or out of order. Every one who asks does receive, that is, everyone who asks correctly, who prays in faith and in submission to the will of God. A parent will seek the welfare of the child, and give what he thinks will be most for its good. Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that would be for our good, God will give to us. To ask in Christ's name, is to make an emotional appeal for his goodness on our behalf.

I recently spoke to someone who has recently experienced a tragedy. I was telling him how I've been praying for their family, and the response was, "yeah well it's not doing much good." I ached to hear that and thought of how we are to be Ambassadors for Christ. We need to share the fact that we have troubles too, and they're not all going to go away when we pray. We must pray for God's will, not expect Him to answer the way we want them answered, when we want.

How do we respond when God doesn't answer our prayers? Does our faith waver if He doesn't give us what we've asked for in the way and time that we expected? Charles Stanley says that we need to understand what God is doing in our lives. Sometimes God doesn't immediately give the relief we are asking for because He's using that particular trial to produce something good in us. God wants us to come to Him with our requests, trusting that He hears us. If he doesn't answer them immediately, it's not because He doesn't care. His purposes are always accomplished according to His timing, not ours. He may answer in a different way or later than we expect. That's why we must wait and trust Him even when we see no evidence of an answer. Stanley says that “whenever God delays in responding to our petitions, He's teaching us to consistently trust and believe Him, not because we see the answer, but because He's promised to hear and answer our prayers. When doubts arise because God delays, it's due to our lack of trust in Him, not a lack of care or ability on the Lord's part.”

Human reasoning and faith are not always compatible. We may have all kinds of good reasons for asking for something, but God sees more of the situation than we do. God is Omnipotent, He knows so much more than we can even fathom. Charles Stanley explained it perfectly when he said, “If God delays in answering a prayer, He has divine reason that is good, legitimate, and helpful. His primary purpose is not to give us everything we desire but to shape us into the image of His Son, and He knows the perfect way to accomplish this.”

God is not a Genie who grants wishes, but we must still pray constantly while remembering to ask for God's will and time, and have faith. God loved us so much that He gave His only son for our sins. 

Prayer changes things.

Breakup With Fear

Sick and tired of being sick and tired
Had as much of you as I can take
I'm so done, so over being afraid

I've gone through the motions
I've been back and forth
I know that you're thinking you've heard this before
I don't know how to say it
So I'm just gonna say it, yeah

Fear, you don't own me
There ain't no room in this story
And I ain't got time for you
Telling me what I'm not
Like you know me well guess what?
I know who I am
I know I'm strong
And I am free
Got my own identity
So fear, you will never be welcome here

Take a minute, let it settle in
You probably never saw it coming
Something's gotta give so I give up you, oh
There's no room for you here
Yeah, I've had enough
The "No Vacancy" sign on my heart is lit up
In case you didn't hear it
Here it is again,

Oh, fear, you don't own me
There ain't no room in this story
And I ain't got time for you
Telling me what I'm not
Like you know me well guess what?
I know who I am
I know I'm strong
And I am free
Got my own identity
So fear, you will never be welcome here

Is there anybody out there just like me?
Anybody needing fear to leave?
If you don't know how to say it
Sing along with me

Sing fear, you don't own me
There ain't no room in this story
And I ain't got time for you
Telling me what I'm not
Like you know me well guess what?
I know who I am
I know I'm strong, brave
And I am free
Got my own identity
So fear, you will never be welcome here
Whoa, goodbye, goodbye fear
Whoa, you will never be welcome here

Woman and A Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the Pastor's reply. "This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor. The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come." The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

Praying For Persecuted Christians

In our first session of Jonah Navigating a Life Interrupted, Shirer asked us to think about those in a hopeless situation., Tracey shared about the CSW, a website for writing letters to persecuted Christians Worldwide, Judy told us of a lovely speech given by an African Bishop, and I found the guide to praying for Christian persecution. All three sites are listed below.

CSW website for writing letters to persecuted Christians worldwide:

https://www.csw.org.uk/connectencourage

Here is the link to J.Johns interview with Mervyn Thomas, founder of CSW.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=STcFoPL-vk4

It is inspiring to watch!

Dr. Jerry P. Kulah, Dean of Gbarnga School of Theology, United Methodist University in Liberia.

https://juicyecumenism.com/2019/02/23/african-united-methodists-wont-trade-bible-for-dollars/

These are the six biblical ways to pray about global Christian persecution:

1. Pray for a bold witness of the Gospel in the midst of persecution. (Acts 4: 20)
2. Pray for supernatural miracles to confirm the Gospel. (Acts 4: 29-30)
3. Pray that the seed of the martyrs will produce a harvest of converts. (Acts 7: 60)
4. Pray for heavy conviction to fall on those who persecute the church. (Acts 9: 3-4)
5. Pray for angelic protection and intervention. (Acts 12: 7, 23) Remember, angels are warriors!
6. Pray that the global Christian community will work for peace and justice in the Middle East.

New Study

Our next study will be Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. We will begin on Feb  28.

South Carolina United Methodists' 40 Days of Shared Prayers For

A Future With Hope

Bishop L. Jonathan Holston invites South Carolina United Methodists to join him in 40 days of shared prayer each day from Monday, Jan 14, through Friday, Feb. 22, leading up to the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference, scheduled for Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, Missouri. Together each day, let us join one another in prayer, believing that God hears every word.

These beautiful prayers are worth repeating, so I plan to add them to my daily prayers past Feb. 22. Thank you Bishop Holston!

Each Sunday: Gracious and loving God, we give thanks for your presence in our lives and the promise that you have plans for us to prosper and not be harmed. Continue your good work in our families and our lives. Help us to understand how we can make a difference - in our church, in our community, and in our world - as your instrument of hope. Amen.

Each Monday: Mericiful God, help us to see the many opportunities before us to serve you by serving our neighbors. Open our hearts and our hands to both receive your grace and toffer it to everyone we neet. Amen.

Each Tuesday: Almighty God, we confess to you that we have not loved your with our whole hearts. We have often failed to be an obedient church when we have not heard the cry of the needy. Free us for joyful obedience that, where there are corridors of shame, despair and want, we might create corridors of faith, hope and love that glorify you. Amen.

Each Wednesday: Gracious God, I know that you are the potter and I am the clay. Mold me and make me into a disciple of Jesus Christ. Show me how to offer your grace and mercy in ways that transform the world. Amen.

Each Thrusday: Lord, we know that when we make space in our hearts for you, Jesus redeems the broken pieces of our lives. We ask you, O God, that you will be at work in us and through us to make a difference in the lives of the hurting and the hungry in our midst. Amen.

Each Friday: God, we thank you for the gift of faith that carries us through those times when we cannot yet see what your are doing in our midst. Help us to walk in your light and to be a light for others. Amen.

Each Saturday: God of Heaven and Earth, as your humble servants, we know that the needs around the world and around the corner are great. Open our eyes so that we can see how to use the gifts you have given us to serve our neighbors and be in mission in the community and beyond. And give us the strength and perservance to get started in this holy work. Amen.

Prayers for the United Methodist Church

 Lord, please cleanse the United Methodist Church by your precious blood.  Please expose what needs to be exposed and guide the leaders to do what you would have them to do.  Please cleanse the people of the United Methodist Church by your precious blood, exposing the lies and revealing the truth to our hearts and minds, so that we may more fully surrender our lives to you and be filled with your Spirit; paving the way for your Holy Spirit to be poured out in fullness that we may take the gospel to the whole world.

The Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church will be held February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Wesley Covenant has a great article called, "A Calm Critique of the One Church Plan." It's short and easy to read.
http://wesleyancovenant.org/2019/01/14/a-calm-critique-of-the-one-church-plan/ 

Blessings

This song is one of my very favorites. The melody is beautiful, the lyrics are inspirational and Laura Story's voice is so lovely singing it. I'm providing a link to the music video and including the lyrics as well.

Blessings
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Songwriters: Laura Story

Pray Again and Over Again

Luke 11:8-9

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

The commentary in The NIV Life Application Study Bible, says that "Persistence, or boldness in prayer overcomes OUR insensitivity, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than His, and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work." I find this very helpful because I struggle with why I need to keep repeating the same prayer. I mean God is the ruler of all, He knows what I am asking for even before I ask it. Jesus told us to keep on asking. He must have had a reason. It makes sense that it is for US not Him. Chris Tiegreen says that we don't know why persistence is required, Jesus doesn't tell us that. But it is clear that it is required, not optional and that we are to be relentless. No where in the Bible does it say that God's silence means no. His silence means keep on asking. This is illustrated for us in the scriptures below.

Matthew 15:22-28

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says simply, "pray continually."

Prayer Journals

I came across a web site this week that really inspired me to be more organized in my prayer life. Courtney Joseph, who has spoken with Lysa TerKeurst at Proverbs 31 Ministries, wrote about her prayer journal. I've never been one to journal much and I pray every day, but after reading Courtney's article, I realized that the spiritual discipline of journaling would help me a great deal. I too, crave order so anything color coded, or lists, plans, or schedules appeals to me! Yes, I've read about keeping a prayer journal before, but something about this approach really spoke to me. I thought I'd share in case you found it helpful too. I've adjusted the topics I'll use a bit to suit my needs. You'll find them below. I'm doing the first three every day, and 4-5 when I am inspired to do so.

If you'd like to read  Courtney 's article, you can find it here: https://womenlivingwell.org/2013/02/putting-my-prayer-life-in-order/ She has some printables to share that you may be interested in as well.

1. Prayers - Can be in list form or sometimes write out entire prayers.

2. Confessions - Confession of sins, which can be just brief phrases.

3. Praises - Again, these can be in list form or sometimes write out entire prayers of           thanksgiving.

4. Quotes and Ideas of Inspiration - Quotes or ideas that have touched my soul.

5. Scripture - I will sometimes use the SOAK method for the scripture. It's an inductive reasoning method, like Anne Graham Lotz and our own Rev. McClendon use.

S – Scripture.

O – Observations.

A – Applications.

K – Kneeling in Prayer.