Watch and pray!

"My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And Jesus came to His disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:38-41

While I was reading this passage today, I was reminded of the importance of watching and praying. Jesus encouraged His disciples to watch and pray with Him before He was taken from them to be crucified. As I read that passage, I wonder, "if Peter had watched and prayed that night, would he still have denied Christ three times? Would Peter had the strength of God to overcome his fear that caused him to deny Christ?"

Ephesians 6:10-12 says, "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 

After reading these passages, I have to confess that I have depended on my own strength to fight against sin far too often. As a result, I have doubly failed. First, I do not have sufficient strength to fight against sin. Second, I have declared independence from God the moment I depend on my own strength. Instead, I should acknowledge my total dependence on God. In Matthew 26, Jesus did not ask Peter struggle harder in his strength. Instead, He called Peter to watch and pray! Oh how we need to just let our guards down and allow the Spirit to work within us!

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 says, "I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the persishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The string of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! HE gives us Victory through OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

"Father, forgive us when we depend on ourselves for strength. We acknowledge our desperate need for You. Far too often have we depended on ourselves--in our struggle against sin, in our ministry to honor you.. You have said in 1 Peter 4:11 that we should depend on you for strength and for words. Forgive us Father! We let our guards down in Your presence, and acknowledge our total dependency on You! Fill us with the Spirit. Stir within us a sense of dependency on You every moment! Father, we praise You for You give us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Breathe upon us O God! We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen!"

"Showing Appreciation for the Gift of Jesus!"

How easy it is to forget what our Lord Jesus has done for us! When a person does something kind and loving for another, the hope is that it will be appreciated. We appreciate people who display an attitude of gratitude in response to an act of kindness. This response naturally surfaces when a person pauses to reflect on what has been done for them through the selfless generosity of another. How much greater should be our wonder and appreciation at the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. As the holy Son of God Almighty, knowing no sin, yet becoming sin for you and I, so that we might become right with the Father, Jesus came as a selfless, helpless baby! Personally I am grieved to think of the times I flippantly say: "Yes, Jesus loves me", but fail to ponder and truly understand just how deep that love goes. Is it possible I become numb to the depth of His love, has my heart become calloused?  Have I become so self-centered that all I think about is what satisfies me?  "I’m sorry Lord, please forgive me!"

An everyday opportunity to show Jesus my appreciation for His loving actions is through my decisions. I must ask myself: Do I truly believe that there are consequences to ALL of my actions?  Everything I do, say or think does impact my life in some way, either positively or negatively.  If I believe the lie that states, “it’s not hurting anyone” or “it’s only hurting me, so what does it matter?”, then I am sadly mistaken. Everything I do brings about a cause and effect; therefore I want the results of my actions to be beneficial, uplifting, and transforming.  I want to model my life after Jesus Christ, who has impacted the world through His birth, life, death, and resurrection. The effect left on the world has been beneficial, uplifting, and transforming! "Lord, please help me to remember that my everyday choices will have consequences." I must pause and consider what I want the results to be before I choose my actions. Our daily choices could range from small ones which do not need a second thought, all the way to crucial decisions we have considered for weeks that could determine a drastic change of course for the path we are traveling! None-the-less, we are wise to remember that ALL of our choices have consequences!

Would you like to say "Thank You!" to Jesus in a different way this year? Terrific! Pause and give consideration to the potential impact of your thoughts, words or actions...before you turn them loose! Develop the selfless attitude that Jesus modeled for us. Think of others first! Merry Christmas! May this be your year of intentional decision-making.

guest writer: Kathy Voogd

"Where Are the Men and Women of Prayer?"

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:16, “[Redeem] the time for the days are evil.” We live in exciting times. More people are alive today than any previous generation. The opportunity to impact our world for Christ has never been greater. We have all the resources we need. But there’s one disturbing question, “Where are the workers?”

Jesus said that the solution to enough workers for the harvest is found in prayer (Mt. 9:37-38). But that presents another problem. Where are the men and women of prayer?

Too many of us have become so busy that we have no time for God. It’s impossible to have an intimate relationship with anyone without sufficient time with that person. How much more true is that with God? We long to spend time with those we love. Therefore, if you truly love God, you will desire to spend time alone with Him sharing your heart and allowing Him to share His heart with you.

This may be the greatest hindrance of this generation of pastors. We have become “professional” ministers and learned well how to produce “quality” programs. But we’ve forgotten the secret chamber of prayer. We often entertain but seldom convict. We draw crowds to our buildings but few to our Savior. We’ve learned the art of developing partnerships, but lost the passion to know the one Partner that really matters.

The Father longs to spend time with His children. He calls to us. Steal away and make time to meet with Him. If there is any hindrance to your intimacy with God, identify it, confess it, and repent of it. Determine in your heart that you long to know Him, really know Him, more than anything in life. He will come to you. He will meet with you. Don’t allow any obstacle to keep you from such intimacy with God.

–Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 37, Hindrances to Effective Prayer by Sammy Tippit).

"A Renewed Mind"

We may say a person has an ulterior motive, there are strings attached, they are in it for the money, they have a hidden agenda, it is not what it seems, or it seems too good to be true. We are naturally skeptical people when it comes to changing our mind about someone or something we do not trust. Have you ever attempted to help someone only to have them skeptically turn down your offer? Have you ever doubted a salesman’s pitch as you were determining to make a major purchase? Have you ever needed to change your mind about someone who proved to be more trustworthy than you initially thought? Have you noticed that it is nearly impossible to fully appreciate the value of someone or something until you understand and trust them/it? For this to occur we typically must change the way in which we view them or think about it.

Pastor Fred Luter shared a message in Convocation on Wednesday about “The Importance of Having a Renewed Mind”. Using Philippians 2:5-8, he reminded all of us that we are being tempted to sin every day by the enemy who has many effective tactics in his bag of tricks. The only way we can stand against his attacks is to have a mind like Jesus. With a renewed mind I am capable of realizing the over-whelming value of what Jesus has accomplished for me through His death. My response should be nothing short of sacrificing my life for Him and living every day for His purposes. Just as Jesus humbly chose to become one of us, my choices should be those that make my Father in heaven pleased. A renewed mind allows me to realize that there are consequences connected to every choice I make. The Cross meant suffering and shame for Jesus. With a renewed mind, I am able to reflect on the message of the Cross unlike those whose minds are still darkened. Many of us Christians fail to appreciate how blessed we are to have access to a renewed mind. We attempt life through our own understanding.

So if you are a Christ-follower, yet find your spiritual walk somewhat dry and passionless, you may need to renew your mind. If you will change your mind, Jesus will change your heart. It is a heart problem! Did Jesus have an ulterior motive; does His message seem too good to be true? Until one renews their mind about who He is and what He has done, Jesus cannot be fully appreciated as Lord and Savior! If you want to grow in your worship and appreciation of Jesus Christ, simply learn more about Him through studying the Bible and then meditate on what you learn…”A Renewed Mind”! Spend some time in prayer right now, asking God to help you renew your mind.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Phil. 2:5 NLT

"When God Calls"

Imagine you get a personal phone call from Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. asking you for a favor. Let’s say he asks you to come to his office right away so that he can talk to you about something very important. He tells you not to worry about your class schedule; he can have his secretary take care of that for the rest of the day. He is adamant about needing you there immediately because the window of opportunity is small. Do you drop everything and go? Are you excited about the possibility of sitting in his office and visiting with him about how you can help him? Or do you share with him that you are busy and do not have any free time until tomorrow afternoon? What about simply not showing up at his office and ignoring his request? What if he called you personally every day for a week…would you go meet with him?

Ken Davis brought us a challenge on Monday during Convocation (watch it online if you missed it! Ken Davis). If God clearly and miraculously revealed Himself to you and called on you to do something for Him…how long would it take you obey? We were reminded that God speaks to us every day. When God comes near and speaks to us we are standing on holy ground. God promises to build His Kingdom but He chooses to use our lives to do the work. Moses was a less than capable ordinary guy empowered by an extraordinary God. For every excuse Moses gave as to why he could not do the job, God reminded him that it wasn’t about his abilities…it was all about God’s abilities! “God will never ask you to do anything He hasn’t first prepared you to do.”

God wants us to experience live to its fullest. Full life is directly connected to our level of obedience when God calls. We cannot do our own thing, ignore God’s call, and assume we should enjoy the blessings of being fully alive. How often do we believe we should be given more blessings than we already have? Is God loving when He tells us “NO”? Is it right for God to withhold from me when I refuse to obey His call? Which excuse am I using to ignore God’s call to me? “Who am I?; How should I explain who You are God?; What if they don’t believe me?; What if they won’t listen?; What if they doubt me?; What if…?” God tells us “You can’t…but I can!” Will you trust Him?

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21 NLT

"Who Gets the Thanks?"

Have you ever realized a habit or tradition you practice regularly but have no idea why or what it's purpose is? You have heard of the husband who asked his wife why she cuts the holiday ham before she cooks it. Her answer was, "My mom always cut it". One day out of curiosity he asked his mother-in-law why she cut the holiday ham before cooking it. She answered "My mother always cut it." Now he had to know why this family always cut the holiday ham in half before cooking it. One holiday they were all at grandma's house so he asked her: "Grandma, why do you cut the ham in half before you cook it?" She answered, "That's simple, I never had a pan large enough to cook a whole ham!"

How often do we stop to consider why we hold to the traditions we do? I think this is an excellent time of the year to consider the purpose of holidays, most specifically Thanksgiving! I have always been amazed at the many people who celebrate Thanksgiving, yet have no appreciation for God or what He offers us through His Son Jesus. They believe they are self-made and have no appreciation for the blessings God has given to them. If one does not believe there is a God who sovereignly rules and is the source of all blessings, then there must be another answer. Here is an answer I found online: "The Pilgrims had the first Thanksgiving, because they wanted to give thanks to Squanto and the Native Americans for teaching them how to do things and live life in different ways, not just the ways the Pilgrims used to live like. Without the Native American's, they probably would have died. Today, at Thanksgiving time, we express gratitude for the good things, people, and events in our lives and the greater world around us." So basically some believe we are simply thankful to each other for what we have. We fail to mention that the Pilgrim's gave thanks to God Almighty.

President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation was pretty clear: "...To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. ...They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God...I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens..." 10/3/1863

Maybe you can help someone better understand the history of Thanksgiving Day in America by pointing them to the goodness of our Lord. We are so blessed and enjoy the many gifts that have come from His hand even though we do not deserve any of it. Let's help each other keep a proper perspective this year as we remember to give thanks to our Creator God! Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!!


"Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." Psalm 100:3-5

"Choosing Friends"

How much thought have you given to choosing friends? Should we be concerned about those we spend great amounts of time with?

• "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence." (George Washington) 
• "When you choose your friends, don't be short-changed by choosing personality over character." (W. Somerset Maugham) 
• “A good friend will always stab you in the front.” (Oscar Wilde) 
• "Don’t make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up." (Thomas J. Watson)

Is it true that friends can help make you into more than you are but that they can also break you and prevent you from becoming what you could be? This appears to be a valid consideration for all of us to process.

Is it really possible that the choice of friends made by Amnon, king David's son, is what led to his murder? In 2 Samuel 13 we find the story that our Convocation speaker, Pastor Jentezen Franklin, used to sharpen us with on Wednesday. He has challenged us to reflect on the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right kind of people. Young ladies were challenged to protect themselves from young men who do not have God's ways in mind, and likewise for young men regarding young ladies. How many of us really believe this subject is that critical today? We often do not see ourselves choosing friends that could ever be like Jonadab ("a very shrewd man"). Do we really believe that a choice of friends could lead to our murder (that's pretty drastic isn't it?). Isn't it possible that we could change that person who may be a little rough around the edges, after all we always have fun times when they are around! "I don't think I need to stay away from them, it's not like I will become like them." Aren't we entitled to unbridled fun during this time in life? We can always get serious later, right? Is it realistic for us to to say to someone "I like you, but I love Jesus!", and then put some distance between us and them? Is it OK to be alone for a season...aren't we missing out?

We were reminded by Pastor Franklin, that the enemy always wins the battle when we get on his turf...in the darkness of sin. "Sin is not your friend, but it will disguise itself as such." The problem is that we often do not realize when we are in his house! The solution is to have friends that will warn us! Will you honestly consider the dangers of having the wrong friends? Consider your behavior, have your friends changed you over the last 6 months? Your call.


"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Prov. 12:26

"Steven Furtick: How to Approach God"

It’s common practice to teach your kids to say "please" and then "thank you" when they have requests. It’s considered proper protocol. And when talking to adults, it is. But with God, things are a little bit different.

God has a protocol for how He wants to be approached. And it starts with thanksgiving:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

With God, "thank you" should always come before "please." The first thing that needs to come out of my mouth in prayer and worship needs to be praise for who God is and what He has done. Not just instructions for what I want or even need Him to do.

Thank you is the key that opens the door to God’s house. There’s a lot of reasons for this, but more than anything, it’s about perspective.

If you thank God for everything before you ask Him for anything, it makes you realize you deserve nothing. It gives you the worldview that but for the grace of God, you would be in hell. And in turn, it makes you even more thankful because you’re not. And because God still answers your prayers.

Additionally, starting with "thank you" is just practical. When we start with praise, we establish the goodness and greatness of God right off the bat. Now all of our subsequent prayers and complaints can be answered by a good and great God who can both respond to us and who wants to.

It’s impossible to be self-absorbed and God-conscious at the same time. Realign your perspective in prayer today.

Start with "thank you." And then move on to "please."

by Steven Furtick

"Understanding Prayer = Effective Prayer"

I continue to meet people who honestly admit that they do not fully understand the game of football. Now most of us would be surprised at this revelation, thinking that clearly everyone understands such a well-known popular past-time! Yet the reality is that some people watch the game without: really making sense out of all of the plays or the penalties; knowing what the individual referees are responsible for (why do they need so many?); knowing why there are so many coaches among the players; or why so many players stand around on the sideline dressed in their jerseys, without pads on, but don't look injured! There may also be some confusion about the various rules: is it the knee or elbow on the ground...or both, that stops the play; how many feet need to touch before it is a catch; does a touch-back come out to the 20 or 25 yard line...is that on a punt or kick-off; why can some guys grab with their hands but others try it and get a yellow hankie thrown at them; why do they call a safety when a safety tackles the QB in the end-zone; what about downs, conversions, PAT's, illegal touching?, huddle, snap, flea-flicker, swing-pass; and the list could continue...

I believe that prayer is similar in a way to football. It is easy to listen to it, talk about it, watch it, participate in it, and even like it, without understanding it. When we do not understand something well, we are at a distinct disadvantage when trying to explain it to others, enjoy it fully, engage in it, teach it, lead it, improve it, or simplify it. In other words, what does it take for our prayers to be more effective? Is it possible that many people who pray or those who would like to pray more than they do, might not understand what they should about prayer? Like football, is it simply easier not to ask the questions because we might be embarrassed for not knowing the answer? Could it be though, that the answers would actually lead one to a greater understanding of prayer or football, which would also open up greater enjoyment and appreciation on our part? I imagine the difficulty in recruiting for a class on "Becoming a Better Fan - Understanding Football Better"...would anyone attend? I have discovered that when people hang out with those who truly know the game of football and humbly share what they know, knowledge of the game is passed along, understanding increases, and appreciation for the game grows. Is it possible that it would be the same for prayer? Let's talk about prayer....

Ascribe Glory to the LORD

Ever been in a situation where you just don't seem to have the desire to worship God anymore? Simple solution: don't try. As human beings, we are given the privilege of free will--to act and respond. Hence, we simply cannot outwardly express our worship to God if it does not exist inwardly. For example, if a water bottle is empty, one cannot pour a single drop of water from it unless he first refills it. Therefore, instead of trying to muster "water" from your "empty bottle," try to fill your empty bottle with His Word and let worship overflow as a natural response to Him!

Psalm 29 centers on calling the Israelites to ascribe glory to the Lord. In efforts of leading the Israelites to worship, David provides a context in which the Israelites can respond. Verses 3-9 are an account of the power and awesomeness of God's voice. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, thunders, is powerful, is full of majesty, breaks the cedars, makes Lebanon skip like a calf, flashes forth flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare (Ps. 29:3-9). In essence, David is trying to remind the Israelites that God is and will forever be enthroned over all things because He is the King of all kings. By His voice alone, God is able to make His will come true!

In response to God's omnipotence and God's sovereignty as revealed in His Word, let us meditate upon His majesty and allow worship to naturally flow out of us--to ascribe glory and strength to Him, to ascribe to the Lord glory due his name! 

(Revelation 4:11) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Unleashing Your Inner Revolutionary

What picture do you immediately conjure up in your mind when you hear the term "revolutionary"? Some may think of a radical group which is attempting to overthrow the current government of some small foreign country. Others may think back to some of their classmates from high school who always collided with the school administration over policies and dress codes. What about a small child who simply smiles and laughs with a grumpy old man in order to cheer him up? You may picture a quiet group of young adults who faithfully share a dream of working to change the lives of a group of inner city children through education. Then there is always the picture of the soldiers from The Revolutionary War fought here in America.

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a revolutionary? Does He call us to be revolutionaries? Our message in Convocation today challenged us to consider what needs to be changed in the present system we may be part of, and then act to bring about change. Human hearts need to change! The Good Samaritan initiated change through his loving actions toward the most unlikely person, one who despised him as inferior. True revolutionaries remember their pain before Jesus found them and changed their life. They never forget that caring for the hearts of others is the business they should be focused on (how many times do we walk right past a person in need, hoping someone else will help them?) They will risk their own reputation and resources in order to help those who need the love of Jesus Christ.

Is there someone you need to get right with in a revolutionary kind of way? The Lord will help us humbly approach them as we work for reconciliation. True leaders understand the pain of others, and the need for action in order to meet those who hurt, right where they are, with the hope we have in Jesus. Safe living is not what God wants from us. Smile at people and say hello. Engage someone you have never met before in a conversation. Buy someone a soda or a cup of coffee and wish them a great day. Talk to someone on the bus - make them wonder who you are and what you are up to!

May the Lord bless you and those around you as you seek to live the life of a revolutionary :)

Luke 10: 25-37

Trust God

After listening to the message given in Convocation today by Dr. Wheeler I am fascinated by the thought of college students applying what was said in a real way - in real life. Some very difficult situations were mentioned by Dr. Wheeler where he has had to trust God with his life or with the life of one he loves deeply. He also shared about some of his students who have needed to trust God while facing difficult circumstances.

What about you? What about those trials in your life when things did not work out in the way you had prayed for God to help? What about the person who seems to always have things work out and they don't seem to pray at all! What are some of the situations where you have struggled to trust God? How did you get through the struggle? If you are still wrestling with something, how are you facing it on a daily basis? What do you do when you want to simply quit trying? We would love to hear some of your thoughts in response to Trusting God! Please let us know what you are thinking.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." --Romans 15:13

El Shaddai--The All Sufficient God

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by problems so huge, you no longer know what to do? Set your eyes upon the Lord and seek His face! During King Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah, a great multitude of army came against Him. Below is an account of what happened (please refer to 2 Chronicles 20 for a full reference):

"After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,[a] came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,[b] from beyond the sea...3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah...5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly... 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you....13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel... 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's...17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another."

--1 Chronicles 20:1-23 (ESV)

In the midst of battle, the people of God chose to worship Him and praise Him! Can you imagine a war that was led by worshipers?

As you face hardship, remember how the Lord has delivered and saved those who trust Him. Continue to trust Him and seek His face!

The Dog of Desire

When Dr. Eric Mason spoke in convocation back in early September, he used a metaphor in his sermon that struck and convicted me: namely, that our physical desires are big Rottweilers on long chains.

Though we have ownership of our desires, they can quickly get out of our control, dragging us in directions we don't want to go. Not only can they drag us in the wrong direction, they can also turn on us, inflicting wounds that leave deep scars.

When we give our desires to God, he trains them and conforms them to His will. After our desires return from "divine obedience school," they are no longer impetuous Rottweilers, but rather seeing-eye dogs. They gently guide us in the way we should go, protecting us from harm that we cannot see.

All we need to do is entrust our unruly desires to the Divine Trainer, let Him conform those desires to His will, and blindly follow the "seeing-eye dog" of God's will in total faith and trust, knowing that His way is infinitely better than our own.

--Catherine Wilson

Living Above Reproach

I was reading 1 John chapters 1 and 2 this morning and the call was clear for all of those who are in the Lord. We have to live above reproach. We as the body of Christ as Children of God cannot live in a way that will disappoint or bring disgrace to His name. There is this reoccurring theme in the Bible that is an imperative to us to “Be Holy for [The Lord] is Holy.” I know that statement is easier said than done. I do not know where you are in your life at this point but that The Lord is putting me through some tests to make sure that I am up to par with this statement. There is an urgency to walk in the light as he is in the light. My encouragement for you today is to always remember that you live for an audience of One, the only One that matters.

"God is light in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin."

--1 John 1:5-7

“Dear Father,
     Thank you for everything that you have given us today. Lord I thank you for revealing your most powerful attributes in times of struggle and pain. I thank you for being strong when I am weak. Lord help us every day to become more like you. Not repaying evil with evil but living above reproach. Lord I ask for your grace whenever your children stumble and do things that are not pleasing to you but I also ask for the strong conviction to not do those things in the first place. Lord I thank you for being who you are.

           In Jesus name I pray Amen!”

Jesus Our Sustainer

My name is Shiloh Finch and I serve as a Prayer Ministry Manager at the Prayer Center. If you are looking for a quiet place to spend time with God, here is the perfect place for you to get that quiet time. We are located on the circle dorm 13 on the first floor. I challenge you to come here one day this week and spend some alone time with God.

We just wanted to let you know that we are here praying for you, by name. Currently, I am praying for you right now here in the Prayer Center. I am praying for you to be used to better the Kingdom of God.  I am also praying for your schoolwork, health, financial needs, your relationships with people around you, and most importantly your relationship with God. I wanted to share a quick verse with you that I was reading and studying through today before my time of prayer.

2 Corinthians 4: 7-9 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

I encourage you to read through verse 12 to finish the passage. Today in convocation I was really convicted, as I hope you were as well. Jesus is the only thing in the world that will sustain us. I know that many of us believe that; however, are we living that in our lives? Is it enough for us to have Jesus in our lives? Would we be content with our only possessions being our bible and the LOVE of God? Nothing in this world will ever be enough to fill the void of God in our lives. We should see the man in prison who was beaten for his faith as an example. I want to have the type of character that the 14 year old boy who was beaten to death had who died praising Jesus' name! THAT IS HOW POWERFUL GOD IS! He is sufficient!

--Shiloh Finch

Meditations on Prayer

Prayer Journey Bible --Towns, Destiny, c. 2011.—Proverbs 12 :25 "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." Prayer Principle 487 Tongue –Disciplined Prayer, James 3:8 --"Lord, I love to learn the good principles of life."

My Utmost For his Highest—Oswald Chambers , March 12 – "Total Surrender" – Mark 10:28 – "See, we have left all and followed you." Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. 

Teach Me To Pray -365 Readings – Andrew Murray, March 12, "The Life That Can Pray" – "I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit so that the Father will give you whatsoever you ask for, using my name."– What life must one live to bear fruit? What must a person be in order to pray with results? What must one do to receive what he or she asks? The answer is simple. Live as a branch depending on the vine for strength. The source of power in prayer is the vine.

Seize The Day by Dietrich Bonhoeffer {whose faith –driven resistance to the Nazis during World War II resulted in his execution.} March 12 – "Being Thankful for the Small Things" – Ephesians 5:20 –"Lord, grant that in the small things I may be thankful. And in the big things I may not lose my appreciation of what you do. Amen."

Grace For The Moment – Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year – Max Lucado , c. 2000., March 12- "Slaves to Goodness." Romans 6:22, "Now you are free from sin and have become slaves of God." We didn’t even know we were slobs until we met him. Then he moved in. Things began to change. What we threw around we began putting away. What we neglected we cleaned up. What had been clutter became order.

Strategic Prayer –Eddie Smith , -Applying The Power of Targeted Prayer – Essential Prayer Strategy – “the incremental execution of a singular realistic {achievable} objective, under unified command, with verifiable results."

Everyday Prayers, 365 Days to a Gospel–Centered Faith, Scotty Smith, Baker Books , c. 2011. “All of us are just as capable and culpable of crushing the spirits of others--Melt the madness of meanness with the grandeur of your grace. I pray in your near and healing name. Amen."

--Dr. Hughes

Meditations on Prayer

Prayer Journey Bible, Towns, Destiny, c.2011 -- March 8, 2012
Principle of prayer - 286 - Listen-Prayer, Matt 18:19
Proverbs 8:33 - "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not."
"Lord, I will always put you first in my life. You love those who follow wisdom's principles, and I will love wisdom to become smarter. I want godly character, inner peace, and Your happiness. Amen."

My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers c. 1935. -- March 8 - "The Surrendered Life -- Galatians 2:20 -- "I have been crucified with Christ...If you have faced the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And the God will equip you to do all that He requires of you."

Teach Me To Pray -- Andrew Murray --365 readings -- "Difficult Prayer" --Luke 22:44 "He prayed more fervently..." All nature has been so arranged by God that nothing is found without work and effort.

Strategic Prayer -- Applying The Power of Targeted Prayer --Eddie Smith - Bethany House, c. 2007. Principle 6 -- Targeting Supply -- Pray against the Devil's tactics that rob us and others of our time. Ask God to supply the financial resources necessary to expand His kingdom through our lives. Pray that Christians would properly evaluate their use of money and would begin to give, by faith, toward that which brings the greatest return.

Grace For The Moment --Max Lucado --Inspirational thoughts for Each Day of the Year -- c. 2000--- Led by the Spirit -- Romans 8:14 -- The true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them...but when it comes to the Holy Spirit, we are confused at best and frightened at worst.

Everyday Prayers --365 Days to a Gospel Centered Faith -- Scotty Smith --Baker Books , c. 2011. - "Blessed Are the Refreshers" ---Proverbs 11:24-25 --- "One person gives freely, yet gains even more: another witholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." And as grace runs downhill to the needy, so it flows to others. To whom would you send us today--to whom would you send me? Freely I receive; freely I will give. I pray in your most generous name Amen.

Seize The Day - with Dietrich Bonhoeffer - March 8 - No Regrets - II Timothy 4:7 -- "To have no regrets is to have made good choices and to have exercised the mnistry of forgiveness."

--Dr. Charles Hughes

Meditations on Prayer

Seize The Day -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer -- Participating in Life: "Preparation for heaven is not withdrawal and passivity, but a strenuous participation in the challenges of life."

Prayer Journey Bible –Towns – Proverbs 5:7 "..depart not from the words of my mouth." {Prayer Principle 207 Guidance – Prayer, Rom. 12:1-2}

Teach Me To Pray – 365 Readings – Andrew Murray – Deuteronomy 3:28 "Commission Joshua and encourage him." Let us confess before God our lack of prayer. Lack of prayer is the proof of the lack of faith.

Strategic Prayer – Applying the Power of Targeted Prayer, Eddie Smith. –Principle 2 – Targeting The Power Grid – "The Devil’s power grid is deception. God’s power grid is truth. We must speak the truth in love."
Everyday Prayers - 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith – Scotty Smith, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, c. 2011. – March 5 – A Prayer about All-Weather Friendship – "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." {Proverbs 17:17}

Grace For The Moment – Inspirational Thoughts For Each Day of the Year – Max Lucado – March 5 – Sole Provider, Sole Comforter – "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest." -- Matthew 11:28. As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option.

"Gracious Lord , give us fire and faith for loving as all-weather friends. What do we do next? Do we get in our cars, buy an airline ticket, call up, show up? How can we best come alongside our hurting friends? Show us, Jesus; lead us. We pray in your faithful and compassionate name. Amen."

--Dr. Charles Hughes

Freedom Prayer

A Prayer for More Freedom -- I am learning to pray with Chambers, Ravenhill, Murray, Prayer Journey Bible, Bonhoeffer, Lucado. Today is Scotty Smith.

"Dear Jesus, I’m still not as free as you intend. Please free me so I can be less irritated, and less often, with fewer people. Please turn my hair–trigger reactions into slower, wiser responses. Please help me use fewer words and more listening when engaging others. Please unshackle me from the illusion of control and my commitment to a pain free heart.
Lord Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment. Please help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Please help me be more intrigued with people I don’t know and less timid around strangers.
Lord, please free me for greater spontaneity, louder laughter, saltier tears, and quicker repentances.
I pray in your most compassionate name. Amen."

--Dr. Charles Hughes