A Powerful Prayer

(Colossians 1:9-14)


This is a powerful prayer you should pray for the people in your life. Be prepared for God to work these things in your life when you do! (Heard on Turning Point today)

Pray that you/they will :

1.) Be filled with the knowledge of God's will, spiritual wisdom and understanding. (vs 9)


2.) Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. (vs 10)

*Examine your life against the life of Christ. How are you measuring up?


3.) Obey and be fully pleasing to Him in all things (vs 10)

*The desire of our hearts should be to obey Him @ all times.

*Is the bottom line in your life: "What does God want?"


4.) Bear fruit in every good work. (vs 10)

*Service, activity, involvement

*Has given your life made an eternal impact in anyone's life?


5.) Increase in the knowledge of God. (vs 10)

*The knowledge of God is knowing who He is and how He operates in your life.

*The more you know god's ways the more valuable you are to family, friends, the church and God's eternal plans.


6.) Be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. (vs 11)

*God gives you enough power to fulfill what He requires of you. He has given you ALL you need for this lifetime.

* This is strength only in God's power not man's.

*Walking in the Lord's energy and strength

7.) Have a life that is a joyous expression of thanksgiving for the work of Grace through Jesus. (vs 11)

*We are redeemed and forgiven and that should evoke a spirit of thanksgiving



Remember when you pray that:



We are privileged to talk to the Creator God of the Universe.


You are loved and listened to at all times by Him.


He desire only the best for you.


He wants to meet with you every day.


He wants to hear and answer your prayers.


He will answer your prayers.


He adores you.

Tender Mercies and Grace

There are things in this life and humble a heart. The face of a child, the smile of a senior citizen, the laugh of your friends. Sometimes it's just a feeling.

I read a message today from someone I really didn't expect to hear from and their words pricked my heart and showed me that God's mercy and grace are everlasting and overflowing.

By the world's standards this person should never have replied to me and held a grudge. Not because of my actions but actions of a family member who hurt them so deeply. It happened at a time in my life when I wasn't a child of God and I didn't do everything I could to help. In my selfishness I let that person down and it's a deep regret that I have.

But her words healed something in my heart concerning that whole situation and her graciousness was admirable. I know that I am not responsible for the hurt but being related to someone who has a habit of hurting everyone around them has a stigma attached to it.

Because I walk with Christ now I have such a heart for the damage this person has done. It breaks my heart to think of the children and the ex-wives that have been traumatized and then abandonded. It hurts me that he couldn't be the father and husband he needed to be - the man that God calls all men to be.

I am ashamed of him. It has built a huge wall up in my heart concerning him and I know that I have to forigve him. It seems impossible right now especially after talking to a victim of his devestation.

I am so happy for the contact and the ability to just say "Hi" and wish them the best. It's a small thing but it's a huge start. I know that I cannot fix what he did to her or anyone else but I can tell them I am sorry for what he did. I can stand in the gap and give them some sort of apology even though I know it doesn't mean alot and it doesn't take away his responsibility.

I know that God blessed me today with her reply and I am so thankful.

New Bible Cover

Well today I bought a new Bible cover.

Scanning the rows of Bible covers I searched for just the right one. I knew the size and had an idea of what color I wanted. I wanted something cute, something feminine, something to carry my Bible comfortably.

I must have picked up a dozen or so covers. My eyes scanned over many more than that. The selection was impressive - there was a cover for just about every taste.

Decisions. Decisions.

It's important to have the "right" cover. You don't want to waste your money on a cover you will hate when you get home. It's a serious decisions right?

So, I went with a cute green cover that has a flower. It's the right size and I really like it.

As I stood at the kitchen table shoving my XL Bible into the cover I felt rather satisfied with myself. I made a good selection and I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed.

A little while later as I glanced at the cover in passing the Lord laid this upon my heart:

"I like that cover you chose Daughter. You spent so much careful time picking it out to protect your Word and I appreciate that. I can't help but wonder why you don't seek Me out with that much tenacity and care? Do you think you can come meet with me in the Word that is now neatly covered in that pretty green cover? I miss you and I love you."

Broken.

Humbled.

Saddened by my weakness of flesh.

Determined to make it right.

Thank you Jesus for making my brand new Bible cover a lesson I will never forget because I'll remember it everytime I see the green cover with that pretty flower.

Your daughter.

A Parable: Saving Lives

A Parable: Saving Lives

by Charles R. Swindoll

Colossians 4:2-6; Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 5:1-33

On a dangerous seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving station. Actually, the station was merely a hut with only one boat . . . but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the turbulent sea. With little thought for themselves, they would go out day and night tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the lost. Many, many lives were saved by this brave band of men who faithfully worked as a team in and out of the lifesaving station. By and by, it became a famous place.



Some of those who had been saved as well as others along the seacoast wanted to become associated with this little station. They were willing to give their time and energy and money in support of its objectives. New boats were purchased. New crews were trained. The station that was once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant began to grow. Some of its members were unhappy that the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided. Emergency cots were replaced with lovely furniture. Rough, hand-made equipment was discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut, of course, had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture, systems, and appointments. By its completion, the life-saving station had become a popular gathering place, and its objectives had begun to shift. It was now used as sort of a clubhouse, an attractive building for public gatherings. Saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening the fearful, and calming the disturbed rarely occurred by now.



Fewer members were now interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professional lifeboat crews to do this work. The original goal of the station wasn't altogether forgotten, however. The lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club's decorations. In fact, there was a liturgical lifeboat preserved in the Room of Sweet Memories with soft, indirect lighting, which helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel.



About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the boat crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty, some terribly sick and lonely. Others were black and "different" from the majority of the club members. The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered. A special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built outside and away from the club so victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.



At the next meeting there were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the members. Most of the people wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities and all involvements with shipwreck victims . . . ("it's too unpleasant, it's a hindrance to our social life, it's opening the door to folks who are not our kind"). As you'd expect, some still insisted upon saving lives, that this was their primary objective—that their only reason for existence was ministering to anyone needing help regardless of their club's beauty or size or decorations. They were voted down and told if they wanted to save the lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast! They did.



As years passed, the new station experienced the same old changes. It evolved into another club . . . and yet another lifesaving station was begun. History continued to repeat itself . . . and if you visit that coast today you'll find a large number of exclusive, impressive clubs along the shoreline owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving of lives.



Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved. Every day they drown at sea, and so few seem to care . . . so very few.



Do you?

Widow

I found out last night that a person from my past died in his home yesterday. Tim was in my life while I was very young, around 16 y.o. Eventually he married a friend named Christi and they had two children.

Yesterday Tim died at home and I am so sad in my heart for Christi and her children. He was only 37. I think about Christi and the struggles she will have in becoming a widow with her husband I want to cry for her.

She and Tim basically grew up together in their marriage - much like Teddy and I have done. Marrying young tends to do that to you. The amazing thing is that if you hold on through the tough times that always happen in the early years - you end up with this wonderful love and friendship. (That's what happened for me I hope it happens for others as well).

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. (II Corinthians 4:17)

Christie and I were friends at one point in our teen years. We have known each other since 6th grade but lost close contact nearly 20 yrs ago. But even though there was a time issue when I heard her husband died I was emotional.

So now I can only think about the state of her life. Does she know Christ? Was her husband a Christian? Is she going to have the comfort of the Loving Savior with her during this awful time of mourning and learning to live again?

I'm going to the viewing and the funeral. I want so badly to jump to the front of the line and take her by the shoulders and ask about her salvation. I would never do that but I am going to pray actively that God allows me a chance to minister to her. That He shows me a way to leave her my information so we can have contact.

So, today I am sad for Christie. A widow at such a young age.

-In Christ Alone,
Mar

Stephen and the Stoning

Currently, I am reading in Acts. I just read about the stoning of Stephen and it always leaves a lump in my throat. I am amazed at how serene and calm Stephen was in the face of his accusers. It even says that those accusing him noticed he had the face of an angel. They noticed something heavenly about him and yet still went forward with their intent to kill.

Stephen was so brave and strong during that whole ordeal. Faced with a mob who wanted his blood he boldly spoke and what came out of his mouth was power. It was power to accuse the accuser and set their hearts ablaze with shame and conviction. They knew in their heart of hearts that they had slaughtered the Christ and they hated Stephen for showing them that.

Next came death by stoning. So, I thought I'd research death by stoning a bit more closely. I want to know what he faced. What he saw in the moments before he was received into heaven. What does it take to throw a stone at another human being with the intent to kill? Were they small or large? Did it take many to end his life? Was his suffering very long? 

Here is what I found out about stoning:

*It is perhaps the oldest form of execution known to man.

*It is not practiced in the U.S. but is actively practiced today in many Muslim countries.

         *Example - A 13 yr old girl was stoned in 2004 for being raped by her own brother
*It is primarily enforced by fundamentalist "sharia" law

*The prisoner is buried either up to his waist (if male) or up to her shoulders (if female) and then pelted with stones by a crowd of volunteers until obviously battered to death. Under the terms of most fundamentalist courts, the stones must be small enough that death cannot reasonably be expected to result from only one or two blows, but large enough to cause physical harm. The average execution by stoning is extremely painful, lasting at least 10 to 20 minutes.

To stone a person you have to be completely committed to the act. It's up close and personal. How filled with hate do you have to be, as a human being, to be a part of this kind of murderous act?

Thinking about Stephen, the first martyr for Christ, humbles me to the core. It's as if the shiny, glass monument I have built to myself in honor of my "great" religious deeds just comes crumbling down in the face of his man's sacrifice for the cause of Christ. What have I sacrificed in my entier Christian life that is even slightly in comparison to what Stephen gave?

Easy answer - nothing. Not a single thing.

Big shoes to fill that my dear brother Stephen left behind for us all. Shoes that are canyons wide and oceans deep! Even as he was dying from the stones being thrown at his broken body he pleaded for mercy from God. Mercy for those killing him. Just like his Savior did on a cross. Mercy to the murderers. It's almost incomprehensible really.

As I was writing this tonight I had one more thought of Stephen. A wonderous, amazing, brilliant thought!

Stephen was the very first voice that God heard as a Martyr! It is Stephen's voice that shouts out the loudest and longest among all the Martyrs at the throne of God, right now! Right now as I type these words that will be forgotten in a day or two, the great crowd of Martyrs around the Almighty Throne of God are calling out for justice and our dear Stephen was there first!!

As he gazed up into heaven, seeing into the throne room, can you imagine what he must have seen? He said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, that much we know. But there has to be so much more to it! Well, that's what my finite mind thinks anyway but now that I re-read my words..........Jesus was enough. Jesus was enough for him to see and have a face of rapture and beauty. Jesus was enough for him to glance upon and just know that he's bound for glory.

It had to be the sight of Jesus that gave him the strength to go through the horrendous death. I believe that Stephen, once he saw Jesus, felt nothing else after that. He was caught up in the ecstasy of seeing His Savior waiting for him in Heaven. Perhaps, when Stephen saw the very throne of God he saw the place he would sit and wait. Maybe he knew before he left his body to be with the Lord that his place was right at the feet of the throne.

I wonder how he felt when more souls of the Martyrs began to join him there. Oh, I am sure he cried out so loudly by himself but can you imagine how much more he would have put into his cries with another voice? And another, another and then millions upon millions more?

I'll go to bed tonight and dream of Stephen and the martyrs I hope. Dream of the wonders that the book of Acts has in store for me. Dream of my place in heaven and what I'll do when I'm there.

Dream of my Jesus - smiling at me and running with me in a field of brilliantly colored flowers. Just me and Him. But don't worry dear Beloved, He'll have time for you too! :)

With the Eternal, Jubilant Love of Christ,
Mar