Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Prayer List Upgrade


Image result for prayer child     The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective!  James drops this motivating morsel at the end of his letter to Christians in trouble (James 5:16).  If prayer is such a potent force, why do we often feel as if we’re stuck in a rut uttering mindless repetition before the almighty Father?  Have no fear, scripture is here!  I encourage you to put this helpful list from scripture near your primary prayer place.  Whether it’s a kneeling bench, a closet, a bathroom, the office, or the car, posting this prayer list in a prominent location can help you pray for the same things early Christians did in a fresh and exciting way! Here are some things you can pray for starting today.

·   Pray that God would exalt His name in the world. – Matt 6:9
·   Pray that God would extend His kingdom in the world. – Matt 6:10
·   Pray that the gospel would speed ahead and be honored. – 2 Thess 3:1
·   Pray that God would give justice to His people in their cause. – Luke 18:7
·   Pray that God would save unbelievers. – Romans 10:1
·   Pray that God would direct the use of the Sword. – Eph 6:17-18
·   Pray for words to boldly proclaim the good news. – Eph 6:18-19
·   Pray for the healing of wounded brothers & sisters. – James 5:14-15
·   Pray that God would supply his troops with necessities. – Matt 6:11
·   Pray for God’s wisdom. – James 1:5
·   Pray that God would establish His leadership in the mission field. – Acts 14:23
·   Pray for unity and harmony in God’s Kingdom. – John 17:20-21
·   Pray for a knowledge of God’s will. – Colossians 1:9
·   Pray for power to comprehend the love of Christ. – Ephesians 3:14-19
·   Pray for strength and endurance. – Colossians 1:9-11
·   Pray for the forgiveness of your sins. – Matt 6:12

Other People to Pray for in the Bible
·   One another (Jam 5:16)
·   All people (1 Tim 2:1)
·   Friends (Job 42:10)
·   The Saints (Eph 6:18)
·   Governing Authorities (1 Tim 2:2)
·   Church Leaders (Heb 13:17-18)

“May He (God) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed!” – Psalm 20:4

Friday, June 8, 2018

The Bow of the Beginning and End


The Bow of the Beginning and End 
by: Topher Wiles

     “It’s not the destination but the journey that matters.” That sounds like a great old adage to follow, yet we need more to keep us afloat along till we reach our destination.  We need reminders of the beginning and the end.
     Noah steps off that grand ole ark to God’s artistic lightshow in form of the amazing rainbow.  Imagine being a 601 years old adult seeing it for the first time!  Noah had a wonderful fresh start to the journey as we often do in our Christian walk.  Do you remember the time, like Noah, you were “saved through water?”(1 Pet 3:20)  It was an amazing fresh start, wasn’t it!?
For many of us, that fresh start gets muddied & mired with trouble along the way, much like the calamity Noah & Ham found just after the flood. (Gen 9:22)  How many times have we seen Christians on fire with a fresh start only for that blaze to die to a barely visible glowing ember through the rest of their lives?   Yet, the Christian walk doesn’t have to be this way.  We can continue to travel with a brightened and enlightened life filled by focusing on two major points, the beginning and the end.   
     God gives us a view of the Alpha & Omega, beginning & end, in the book of Genesis and Revelation.  To sum up both, you need only remember His rainbow.    
  1. Remember the rainbow as God’s as a fresh start in the first book of the Bible in Genesis 9:13.
  2. Remember that we will see God’s rainbow in all its glory again in Revelation 4:3. 

     That’s right, the rainbow doesn’t show up again in the Bible until John’s vision of heaven where that beautiful bow encircles God’s throne.  How exciting it will be to see that rainbow again with God in the middle of it!   
      “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.” – Revelation 4:2-3
     From these two rainbows in scripture, we are reminded of our beautiful fresh start and our glorious hope to come when we finally see Jesus.  God purposefully puts His rainbow only in the beginning and end of the Bible to give us sweet reminders of where we’ve come from as well as our coming hope to give us motivation along the way.  May God bless you with sweet remembrances on your journey. 

    May the hope of heaven help you to live today for Jesus!