7.13.12 "Living in His Fullness"

Today’s reading is Colossians 2: 9-17 ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.   ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities,he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

As I read the scripture for today my mind went to, “What does it mean to be given fullness in Christ (old NIV)  or to be brought to fullness in Christ (new NIV )”?    The opposite of full is empty - so without Him and the fullness of all He has for me, I am empty.  It’s the same as the new wine skin and patches.  If I’m not truly living in the fullness of Jesus, then I have to do patching here and there as I need Him, rather than accessing His power and authority over every aspect of my life and in every moment.   I looked up the meaning of “full” and this is what Webster’s says:   1. Filled  2. Complete  3. Rounded   4. Having an abundance of something ; entirely; utmost degree.    I love “utmost degree” by the way...

So, practically, I’m thinking, how do I live in this fullness, abundance, utmost degree of Christ, that’s been given to me?   How do I see myself living with His life in me everyday?  How do I access and live under His authority and power... the same authority and power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead.  The same authority and power that disarms the devil and triumphs over him by the cross!   My mind is totally capable of receiving this information and believing it and believing I have His life and power in me... but my heart has difficulty knowing how to receive it and put it into practice and then see myself under Him and full of Him (and all that comes with that) every moment of every day.

Repetitiveness is helpful for me... so remembering daily who I am in Christ, what He’s done for me, remembering  I’m forgiven and how much He loves me, are first steps.  And for me personally, I need a way to ask for it, receive it, speak it, claim it, catalyze it.   So for the past couple of months I have been praying the Daily Prayer by John Eldredge.  Pastor has spoken of this prayer many times, so I’m sure many of you are familiar with it, but if not, here is a link to it. http://www.ransomedheart.com/sites/default/files/assets/prayers/daily_prayer.pdf   I actually have a CD version of this prayer in my car that I listen to every morning on my way into work.  This prayer helps me to center my thoughts and heart on HIM.  The words in the Daily Prayer help me to put myself under His authority at the beginning of my day.  It helps me to speak out all the truths that my heart needs to believe about what it means to live in the fullness of Christ.  Phrases like, “You alone are worthy”,  “I honor you as my Sovereign”, “I come to be restored in You”, “I surrender every aspect of my life to You”, “You alone are Life”, “I renounce all other gods, and idols”, “Grant me healing and deliverance and true repentance”, “I now take my place in your cross and death”, “Apply to me the fullness of your cross, death, blood and sacrifice.  I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will”.    Wow... this kind of praying is powerful!  It prepares me to live in the fullness of Christ each day!

Well, this is where the scripture took me today.  Lord help me to not use you as a patch, but to fully embrace and receive all you have for me and want to do through me every day.  Amen

What are your thoughts for today?

Denise

7.12.2012 School's Out!

Whenever I read my Bible, I am often using an app on my iPad. Using the iPad makes it easy for me to switch through various versions of the Bible fairly quickly, and it's helpful for me as one translation may use certain words or phrasing that others do not - words that catch my attention or give me insight into what God is trying to say to me on a particular day. Today is no different - as I looked through various translations and paraphrasings on Colossians 2:6-8, certain words and phrases caught my attention.

First, here is the complete reading in the NIV translation - So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

What caught my eye in this one?

• "continue to live your lives in Him"
• "rooted and built up in Him"
• "overflowing with thankfulness"
• "no on takes you captive"
• "elemental spiritual forces of this world"

Some others found in other translations that caught me:

• "you must continue to follow Him" (NLT)
• "let your roots grow down into Him" (NLT)
• "let your lives be built on Him" (NLT)
• "walk [regulate your lives and conduct yourselves] in union and conformity to Him" (Amplified)
• "Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving." (Amplified)
• "See that no one carries you off as spoil" (Amplified)
• "idle fancies and plain nonsense" (Amplified)

The Message stated a portion of this reading in a really understandable way for me: "School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving."

What are you trying to say to me, God? Why these words and phrases?

I think ultimately, I am being called to move on - school is out on gathering and storing up knowledge, and filling my brain with all I can gather about doing life in Jesus' name. I need to now trust that, through my faith in Him, I'm equipped and more than able to live life out of that faith. I can see, do, say, act, think - and be confident that it comes from Him if (and this is a big IF) I stay deeply rooted in Him. When I stay to connected, rooted, fully absorbed, I am able to discern what the callings, temptations and distractions of this world are vs. what the Holy Spirit is calling and leading me towards. AND (and this is a HUGE AND) it all spills over into thanksgiving!

As I'm absorbing this truth, I'm also grasping that this is a continual process - learning, growing, doing, AND giving thanks. As I learn more, I grow more deeply rooted. As I do, I grow more deeply rooted, and I am able to discern the world from the Spirit. As I live, it all spills into thanksgiving.

Hmmmm......and as I write this, I find myself more and more drawn to the portion about overflowing with thankfulness.

Why didn't I originally seen that as a main step? I went and added it into the paragraph above after processing a while? Why can't I leave that topic now?

Is it because my old wineskin has parameters on what "thankfulness" looks like? feels like? Is it because I am pre-determining what thankfulness can be?

I think I'm going to stick with this phrase a bit longer -- "and you will overflow with thankfulness".

God, what are you trying to say to me? What do I need to do about it?

How did today's reading impact you?

Lisa

7.11.12 - Trying to control the Creator

Please begin with prayer for an open heart, before you read the passage below. Colossians 1:13-20 - 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,[a] the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Control is something that I struggle with and it’s the antithesis of Christianity.  In thinking of the wineskin conversation Sunday, I think the religious leaders struggled with control as well.  They could deal with Jesus, as long as they ended up playing the ‘god’ role as far as religion went and He played by their religious rules.  They had taken the relationship God gave them and twisted the Mosaic laws to become performance metrics to show our righteousness.  In Exodus, we see God prescribe laws to govern society, but the sequencing is the profound part of the story.  God chooses the Israelites, saves them, and brings them out of slavery.  Then, God gives them the Law, which were the parameters to the relationship.  The teachers of the law perverted the law, negated the trust/submission role with God, and then controlled the people through fear, by using religion as the weapon.

Jesus, the creator of all things and author of the Law, came back to pay for the sins of humanity and the religious elite could not give up their control and surrender to Jesus.  They were attempting to fit the Messiah into their perversion of the relationship that God initiated and shut out and eventually murdered God, in human flesh.

The Colossians passage has amazing language and portrays the awesomeness of Jesus in all the glory He deserves.  We limit Jesus to a beauty sash wearing, product in His hair, blue-eyed, Swedish model that is at our beck and call---look at the words---rescued from the dominion, brought us into the Kingdom, image of the invisible God, firstborn, all things were created by Him and for Him, He is before all things, He holds all things together, head of the church, beginning and firstborn, supremacy, God’s fullness dwelt in Him, reconcile, and peace through His blood---incredible!!   He is central and refuses a lesser role in our lives.

We have wineskins also and limit the magnitude and majesty of who Jesus is and the transformation He so desires for us that’s only found through relationship with Him.  We attempt to hold Him at bay and run our lives while we attempt to patch Him into our lives (old wineskin), where He deserves nothing but full submission, allegiance, praise, honor and glory!  We cannot allow Him to be the add-on, like the religious leaders of the day had hoped for, and place a leash on the Savior of the world---He won’t allow it.

How do you limit Jesus through your ‘wineskin’?  If Jesus had the place in your life that this passage gives Him, how would your life be different?  What words or phrases really caught your attention?  I was overwhelmed with the words in this chunk of Scripture and volumes could be written on each portion.  Blog away!

mike

7.10.2012 "Love His Child as well."

So, it’s my day to write a blog.   I am excited because I have had so many “aha” moments since Sunday about “patches” and “wineskins” and I thought this would be an easy topic to write about.  Then I look up the verses for today: I John 5:1-5   “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His Child as well.  This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.  This is love for God:  to obey His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

My excitement has been momentarily diffused because I have NO idea at first glance what this has to do with patches and wineskins.   I think I better pray!

“My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I come to You now, and ask that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit in such a way that my eyes would be open, that my ears would be open, and that my heart would be open to understand what You want to teach me this day.  Help me to not “run away” when Your Word is confusing.  Help me to be patient and wait on You to reveal to me what You have in store for me this day.  Amen.”

I John 5:1  “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His Child as well.”   

Our church has been studying the Book of Matthew and the sad fact that many of the religious leaders of that day could not grasp that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.  They were experts in their field of religiosity.  They studied the Scriptures and knew the chapters, paragraphs, sentences, commas, and periods.  They could debate, argue, and quote for hours.  Yet, they just could not “see” that this was The One!  He was The Ultimate Subject of all their debates.  And since they were unable to believe this – they were unable to love Him as God’s Child – and ultimately they put Him to death.

“God, I am still stuck.  I still do not know what to blog about.  I spent hours writing – then deleting – then writing- and then deleting.  I am racing down so many complicated trails.  Please help me. I am only on the first verse.  I will look at it again.”

The religious leaders had their own “old wineskins”  - their own beliefs – their own ideas of how God would work – what the Messiah would be like.   When Jesus Christ came in the flesh – right in front of their very eyes – their old, tough, unbendable, thick-skinned wineskins could not hold the New Wine.  Their wineskins burst apart at the seams and they had nowhere to “put” Him.  They got angry.  They yelled at Him.  They mocked Him.  They spat upon Him.  They whipped Him.  They ............... were...................full....................of.....................Hate...................

“…and everyone who loves the Father loves His Child as well.”   

“ I find myself crying.  And whenever I read Scripture and start to cry – I stop – and ask myself why I am crying.  I have learned to follow the hurt and tears because those are the times that God is really "talking" to me.  Why am I crying?”

Because I am hurting for those leaders who did not see Jesus for Who He really was.  They were so very smart.  But they were not smart enough to figure out that He was the Son of God.  He was right there.  They missed Him. They did not love Him.

I ache for them.

I ache for God.  I ache because He loved those stubborn leaders.  He has loved His very stubborn people since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.  He loves all of His people so very much that He sent His One and only Son… but sometimes His people do not love Him back.  And that makes me cry.

I ache for Jesus Who tried so hard to open their eyes – to reveal to them Who He was.  He was tender when He needed to be tender.  He was tough when He needed to be tough.  He healed hundreds of people.  He even raised people from the dead!  He yearned for them, loved them, and forgave them as He hung on the cross.  He was the New Wine – yet they had no wineskins to put Him in.

I ache for people I know today who have nowhere to put this Jesus.

And I ache for myself – when Jesus is right in front of my very eyes – trying to pour Himself into my life – and I am stubbornly holding onto an old wineskin.

“Lord, please forgive me!  Help me to throw out my old wineskins – my old beliefs – the ways I stubbornly refuse to see You when You are right in front of my eyes. Give me new wineskins!  Oh, how I do not want to miss You. I love You!”  Amen.

Well, I only Blogged about  I John 5:1.  I guess that leaves the other four verses for you all to Blog about!

Have a “new wineskin” day!

-dawn

7.9.2012 “Simplicity!”

Welcome! The Scripture foundation for this whole week is Matthew 9:14-17! Matthew 9 ¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. ¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

What grabs me now as I read this again is the idea that I can treat Jesus as an “attachment” to my life like a patch on an old pair of jeans!  He so repudiates that idea through this illustration!  Jesus is either the center of things or nothing at all – He doesn’t leave “attachment” to my life as an option!

The scripture reading  chosen specifically for today comes from the Apostle Paul as He describes when Jesus blew apart his old wineskin and gave him a brand new one!  He had been a faithful Jewish Pharisee and then he met Jesus – the old stuff that use to be so important to Him became nothing – Jesus became everything! Philippians 3 ⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

These verses are such an encouragement to “let everything else be less valuable” than Jesus!  New wineskin living leads me to a radical reprioritization within my life.  Paul says all that was considered valuable is like “garbage” to him now compared to Jesus!  That’s a bold statement!  I think what is grabbing my heart as I read this today is the “simplicity” in a sense of this life Jesus is leading me into.  I think I get worn down when I find myself trying to “please” multiple people or forces or voices in my life.  Paul has One person to follow, One force to respond to, One voice to listen to and he says he considers all those competing people, forces and voices as distant seconds compared to Christ!  That is new wineskin living!  Whether it is family, marriage, career, boss, children, finances, bills, health etc – they all have to take a back seat to “knowing Christ and being found in Him!”  Other things might be important – but not that important!  I need Jesus as “most important” and then the other stuff will more easily fall into place!

There is a radical simplicity to that! Lord, I deeply desire to grasp a little more of the “simplicity” of this new wineskin living today! Amen

How do these verses strike you?  What is God saying? How is this week’s message topic playing out in your life today?

Your insights and comments are so valuable!  Thank you for sharing!

delton

7.8.2012 - “Bachelor Parties, Old Clothes and New Wine!”

Today we launch into another week! Our scripture guide for the blog this week will be from today’s message at PoG!  Everyday will include an additional related scripture and comments from a PoG staff member or leader!

Matthew 9 ¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. ¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

What is Jesus saying here?

I think it takes a while to get at what He is saying and then another little while to grasp the ramifications for our lives!

It seems to me that Jesus is making the point that He is the point of true religion!  The practice of faith and the forms we use to practice our faith are not the point – He is the point?

It is our tendency as humans I think to focus on the “forms of faith practice” instead of the “center point of faith”!  I think it may be that inner need we have to control and contain – ourselves and others!  Control is one of the main ways I express my “trying to be my own god”-ness!  I have to admit – as a pastor in an established denomination for 21 years now, most of the energy I have seen wasted is on senseless arguments having to do with differing “forms of faith practice”!

Bottom line I think Jesus is saying to me today –“delton, you can’t just add Me on to your life and it is senseless to try to contain Me in your box so why don’t you just surrender in faith everyday and let the adventure begin!”  Right now that sounds like really Good News!

How does this scripture account strike you?

If you heard the message today on these verses – what grabbed your attention? How did God speak to you?

These are just some “starting point” thoughts for me – I intend to live with these verses all week!

Your comments are really so beneficial to all who read!  Please share as God leads! We all look forward to a peek into how God is working in your life?

Enjoy,

delton

7.7.2012 “Chosen, Holy, Royal, Special”

1 Peter 2 ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

So Peter is pouring it on thick here with regards to “who” we really become through Jesus!  This relates powerfully to the message theme this week (see yesterday’s blog) about Jesus calling a sinner like Matthew to be His disciple and then having dinner with his friends.  A bunch of  “nobodies” became a bunch of “somebodies” because Jesus waltzed into their lives!

Peter knows we need constant reminders, big over the top reminders of “who” we really are in Jesus Christ.  If we could each fully claim those above listed titles as our own – WOW! – chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s special possession!

I simply love these verses because the more I meditate, ingest, absorb and contemplate them the better person I become in the sense that my attitude shifts, my esteem rises, clarity begins to come, confidence grows, my heart softens, criticism and control lessen … it’s not magic it’s just “truth at work” in a nobody like me.

Everything I do and every action I take flows from “who” I am or more clearly “who” I perceive myself to be at that given moment!  Who I perceive myself to be informs how I act!  This identity/worth/esteem question is huge for every person of every age in every culture – and God has settled the issue through Jesus!  (Can you tell I feel passionately about this!)

It’s just that most people in our world do not know – I mean really know- how and why God has settled the “Who am I? What am I worth? Questions "!  And the cool thing is His “answer” is so good for us and free of charge!  No wonder Peter, after dousing us with our true identity, sends us out to “declare the praises of Him… and live such good lives… that the pagans end up glorifying God!"  A world of people end up getting it – really getting who they really are in Jesus - because a bunch of nobodies turned somebodies got all excited about following Jesus!

What is going through your heart and mind as you read these verses?

What is God saying?

Post your comments and thoughts – we all benefit – you are chosen, royal, holy and incredibly special!

Enjoy, delton

7.6.12 "Jesus Eats with Sinners"

Thanks for coming to the blog today! Join me in a short prayer to start!

“Jesus, Open the eyes of my heart that I might see and hear and take in what you want for me this day! I surrender to and invite your Holy Spirit to lead my mind and heart to receive well from you! I am expectant, open and listening!" Amen

Take a few minutes to contemplate a passage of scripture from this week’s message! Matthew 9 :9  Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, "Come along with me." Matthew stood up and followed him. 10-11Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?" 12-13Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." (MSG)

Who did Jesus hang with, get to know, do lunch with – the riffraff, the sinners, the nobodies! It’s not because they were holy and perfect but because they were broken, messed up and didn’t have life all figured out! Jesus takes notice – He gives them the “honor of His presence, His attention!” He took time, got to know Matthew and his buddies and didn’t mind being seen with them! That is really good news! Maybe, grace means He doesn’t mind being seen with me. With Jesus, a nobody is a somebody! When someone important takes notice – it matters!

I remember when our Josh was 5 or 6 I was marrying a couple who lived in D.C. and had come into town while on vacation to plan the wedding. In the bride’s high school years I was her pastor and now she was the travel secretary for Laura Bush in the White House! Pretty cool! She brought visitor packets from the White House for me to give our kids which included a signed picture of President and Mrs. Bush. When Josh opened up his packet and realized who was portrayed he exclaimed with full confidence and delight, “I had no idea George Bush knew who I was!” He was thrilled! Josh relished in the status of “being known” by the President who sent him a personalized gift! We never told Josh any different!

Matthew must have been blown away when the reality ever hit him, “God came to earth and is in my living room!” He was known by God! This is one of the great “delights” of being a Christ follower! Don’t miss it today! Dwell on that reality! We can all say with faith - filled confidence, “God knows who I am!”

Finally, I am inspired by what God did through Matthew for all his friends! They got to know God that day because they knew Matthew! Will people get to know God today, because they know me? I hope so! This reminds me and encourages me to keep praying for my neighbors and other families as we were taught during the “Why Pray?” journey! I truly want the people I know and care about to get to know the God that already knows them! Keep praying!

Please post your comments about these verses, this blog, and message reflections or your journey this week! What God places in your heart and mind is helpful for us all.

-delton

Why Pray? Day 40 - "DARE!"

Well we have arrived at Day 40 of the “Why Pray?” journey!  This is definitely not an end but truly a jumping off point to greater adventures in the kingdom of God for all of us!  That sense of expectation oozes from this meditation!  The title word “DARE!” gives off and aroma of possibility! A recounting of the leper’s expectant faith recorded in Matthew 8 sparked a hopeful “would I be so daring” question in me. “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.² A man with a serious skin disease came and bowed down in front of him. The man said to Jesus, “Sir, if you’re willing, you can make me clean.” ³ Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!” Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.   I tend to disagree with Devries’ assumption that Jesus had not healed anyone, let alone a leper, at this point in His ministry. (see Matthew 4:23-24) That notwithstanding, this man’s faith stretched over some grave obstacles to access Jesus but somehow by a merciful act of God’s spirit in his heart he “DARED to BELIEVE” and then acted like it! The main stage actor here is Jesus – not the leper!  Jesus heals, Jesus touches, Jesus responds, Jesus loves – the man “DARES to BELIEVE” in this Jesus!  His opening line reveals an expectant yet humble and surrendered faith – he believed Jesus “could” but he allowed Him the option “not to” – He DARED to BELIEVE! “Sir, If you’re willing… You can make me clean!”  He surrendered completely to Jesus!

This whole experience of “Why Pray?” is reminding me that I am not the main stage actor – Jesus is – but that I do have a key role in which I “DARE to BELIEVE” in what God wants to do to me and through me! Then I am expected to “act like it”!  Prayer is a vital non-negotiable part of “acting like” I have “DARED to BELIEVE” in Jesus!

I find myself purposely writing this Day 40 blog in the dawning hours of Day 40 to more fully grasp what God is doing in me on this day.  I believe He desperately wants me to remember and bring along in my “living” what He has taught, shown, inspired and mentored in me over these 40 days.  What has He called me to “DARE to BELIEVE” about Him, His Kingdom, Prayer, me, my role, etc?

I think we all will do well to reflect and retain every morsel of good that He has given us! I also believe what He has shown us collectively as a church is vital to our future ministry.  He is calling us as a congregation to “DARE to BELIEVE”!  Listen to Him in John 14, ¹² “I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father. ¹³ I will do anything you ask the Father in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me to do something, I will do it. What kinds of things has God called you to “DARE to BELIEVE” through this “Why Pray?” journey? Let’s talk about it.  In fact, I am going to reply on my own blog and offer one of the many things He is showing me!  Please join in!

delton

BTW – the BLOG CONTINUES!  The 40 days is over but the journey has just begun! Come right back here tomorrow for continued conversation, inspiration and reflection!  In the weeks to come Sunday messages will shape the blog themes and daily scripture will ignite the discussion!

Your stories are so important!  Please share all stories, comments and inspirations at whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org

"Why Pray" Day 39 Step #3: Share

I liked Devries’ devotion today on Sharing.  I like the emphasis he put on listening being a key component in sharing and how that takes discipline.    I liked the four questions he suggests because they are simple, but effective ways to get conversation going and keep the real focus on God and others, rather than ourselves.  I believe we are naturally more inclined to share about us rather that listen to others.   In a family, small group, or community setting, opinions are important, shared struggles are important, keeping the focus on God and what we’re learning is important, and practical steps are important.  It’s a very holistic view of how to effectively share, care for others, and “act” on what we are learning!    It’s been difficult for my husband and I to find a rhythm of daily devotions and to find something that really works for us since we have become empty nesters.  I think these basic questions are perfect for us because it will prompt discussion about what we are reading in a much more practical and authentic way. As I read through this devotion, the last section or question really caught my attention on “What must we do?”    I feel really strongly that God does not want us to just sit around learning about Him until we’re so full we can’t move!  We learn then exercise by acting on what we’ve learned and we listen and act when HE shares with us His desires for our life.   Mission India’s three part training program of, “Learn it - do it - report it”, reminds me of something I learned at a conference a few months ago.  After every speaker spoke, we were asked to consider, “What is God saying... and what am I going to do about it?”   I’m telling you, as simple as that sounds, it was very profound and convicting for me!   You see, if I am going to truly SHARE Jesus with others, (beyond sharing in group or community devotions) I have to be authentically living my life in such a way that His Presence, power, and realness are evident in everything I do.  After that conference, I asked myself, “ when was the last time I really listened and asked God, ‘what are you really saying to me?’”  And even worse, I rarely consider acting on what He told me, because after all... what if what He called me to do was weird?  Was out of the box?  Was hard or something that I couldn’t see myself doing?  Or what if I heard Him wrong or had to take some serious step of faith way out of my comfort zone?  I don’t mind taking chances on things - as a matter of fact, I like it - but it’s different if it means people will think I’m crazy or look at me different... it’s much harder then!    But haven taken seriously the conviction from the conference, I began to pray and ask God what He was saying... and what He wanted me to receive and hear and do.   He began to answer me through conversations and circumstances that were obviously HIM.  Then there was an action that needed to be taken.  Yes, it was out of the box... so my husband and I... along with another couple that God was calling.. spent a couple of months meeting and praying over this “calling” and how He wanted us to move forward with it.   Another month later and we are living in community with this other couple on our farm.  Sharing everything, including a calling by God, to reach the Elgin area and beyond with the love of Jesus.   We are building a home together, sharing properties together, growing gardens and cows together, etc.  We are pooling resources in order to provide an environment and resources that will bless people and give them opportunity to see love in action.

So, on the Reflect/Discuss section at the end of the devotion, where Devries asks, “How can we “share” more effectively with each other?”  ...My answer is to live life totally available to God!   Sharing the Word, opinions, struggles, and wisdom in the context of family, groups, or community is so important... but living life in such a way that it is a testimony to the work and power of God in our lives is one of the best ways to authentically share Jesus with others.

“Why Pray” has been a wonderful journey for me.  And blogging has forced me to put my thoughts down and really dig deep to explain what I feel.  It’s put some meat to my convictions and has stretched me to share and bare myself.   I’m very thankful for that!   I hope we will all continue the journey...

Thanks for letting me share

Denise

Why Pray? - Day 38 - "Step #2 C.A.R.E."

Please read Day 38! Today we have a new acronym to consider:  C.A.R.E. (Caring and Receiving care Equally.)

The Author speaks about Adam and Eve being willing to receive God’s care, but refusing to return their “care” to God.  Page 229: “They refused to care for God, wanting only His care for them.  No ‘equal exchange of care’ occurred. Their love relationship with God was broken.”

Not long ago God brought this to my attention in a very interesting way.  I am ashamed to recall  the story – but I am glad God lovingly taught me this lesson.  I had been whining to God about the way I thought my husband had not been loving me “right”!  (sigh)  I was feeling neglected – upset about him not calling me during the day, not taking me out on a date, not engaging in conversations when he got home. (whine, whine, whine)  (me, me, me) Somehow, in between my pathetic whines, God lovingly turned the whining around and applied it to the way I treat Him.  I heard God sadly saying something like, “Hmm.  I wonder if Dawn will call Me today?  I can’t remember the last time she had time for Me.  I wish she would spend time on a date with Me. ” (sigh, again)

“Is that what you want to teach me through my whining, God?  That the way I longed for attention from my spouse, is the same way You long for attention from me?”  (groan) “Oh Dear God – I am so sorry – please forgive me for the days and months and even years I have ignored You and not shown You my love and care.”  That moment hurt.  But I am glad that it hurt bad enough to cause me to intentionally try to treat God differently.

The verse for today is found in Hebrews 10:24(NLT) “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds”.

This reminded me of child-rearing.  If I remember correctly – we never had to teach our children how to be selfish! The “outbursts” in our home have rarely been “outbursts of love and good deeds”!!!  Most of the outbursts were outbursts of selfishness and self-centeredness!   We had to teach our children to share their toys, to share their cookies, to be nice, to not hit others, to say thank you, to let their guest pick what to play when they came over.

Sadly, we carry these self-centered ways into our teenage years, into our relationships, our marriages, our divorces, etc., etc., etc.  Right?  Until our dying day we will struggle with “self” and the problem we have returning God’s care to Him.

One final concept that “jumped off the page” for me today is “Care must be given and received equally.”  The “receive” part took me to another direction.  What about the struggle to “receive?” Have you met people who are excellent at giving and serving, but not very good at letting others help them or serve them in return?  We need to also be Good Receivers.  I have no trouble with seeing myself as a "wretched, miserable sinner."  I do struggle with letting God lavish His forgiveness on me - the miserable sinner.  That is a dangerous place to remain.  It's time to grow in this area of Receiving His Grace, Forgiveness, and Love!

Last week I had the joy of taking a mom and her five children out to McDonald’s for lunch.  They are having extremely difficult financial times.  It felt so good to “treat” them.  After an hour of visiting and watching the kids play, she said, “Dessert time – my treat!”  Oh, I wanted so much to say, “No – I’ll get dessert!”  Or, “No, I don’t want anything, I’m fine.”  After all, they couldn’t afford it.  But I think the Holy Spirit intervened and shut my mouth!  She needed the dignity to be able to do something nice for me.  I needed to let her have the joy of giving, too.  I had to be a good Receiver!

That’s the journey God had in store for me, today.  How about you?  I am so thankful for this “Why Pray” experience.  It has change my personal prayer life, as well as the prayer life of our entire family.  I can’t wait to see where God leads us next!

Don’t forget to send in your stories, too!   Email them to whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org.

-dawn

Why Pray? Day 37 - Step #1 Prayer as Praise

Welcome to today's Blog! You know the drill...if you haven't read Day 37 in "Why Pray?" yet -- please do so now. Our conversation will make much more sense! Over the years, I have learned some things about myself and how I communicate: I'm a thinker, a talker, a writer, an observer and a ponderer. I speak well in public, but I have no clue on how to use a microphone and I have more tics than I probably should. I really don't get excited at sporting events even if I enjoy watching them  -- probably because it's hard for me to figure out what was just performed by whom on which team. I'm not much of a crier, a laugher, or a yeller, either. I have very little confidence in my singing voice, and I am pretty sure I have range of 4 notes. Maybe - but I don't know if they should be high or low. I don't even know how to whistle.

I'm just not a very demonstrative person. Now, put me in front of kids, and I will absolutely do almost anything to make a fool of myself, but only because they make the most amazing, appreciative audiences, and that is the language they often speak. It is completely worth it to see the kids "get it". For the most part, however, I'm a fairly reserved word person.

It is from this place - this knowledge about myself - where I became highly uncomfortable about the steps in today's reading. I'm betting you processed each step differently than I did -- for me the words Mr. DeVries wrote for #1 actually read as "Have the family stand in an uncomfortable circle in the living room. Use Psalm 145 as a outline to create a script for your family to pass around and read, taking turns at the appropriate stopping points. Discuss. Cue the CD to the preselected songs and play loud enough so that all are okay with not being heard as they sing the songs. Go to step #2." Yes, I didn't exactly "hear" what Mr. DeVries intended me to hear about "Exalting God" in step #1. As I kept reading, I kept feeling even worse - I can't do these steps! I even began to wonder if our family has even been seeking God right in the way or if these steps are required and they are how we MUST praise God in prayer. I became very sure that these steps couldn't, can't apply to us and how can I sing, I'm not a singer, and I don't even cheer loudly at games among thousands, how could I possibly cheer on God in a group of four, and.....so on.....

.....so I stopped right there. Processing today's reading suddenly became very uncomfortable, very personal, and very "no longer about this blog". So please forgive me if my writing is at all foggy.

I stopped right there and I prayed. I thought. I talked with God about what I was thinking, why I was uncomfortable, and why I couldn't "get" what Mr. DeVries was trying to say.

As I prayed, different moments came to mind - moments of spontaneous praise and discussion, moments of prayer and listening. Some examples are the four of us driving with the convertible top down, singing the Lord's Prayer part of "Manifesto" by the City Harmonic as loud as we could sing with the wind rushing by on the way to school. The way our family talks to God and about God each day as a member of the family, pointing out the good things He has done that day, or wondering what He's up to, or thanking Him, or asking for help.

I realized that we do pray in praise now -- it's just not as structured as Mr. DeVries is discussing in the book. And maybe that's okay. Maybe we're more of an unstructured "praise-prayer group" than a formal one. Maybe our level of expression is great and nothing more is necessary.

Or...maybe we are being stretched into something more than we already are now. Maybe we are (I am) being asked to look at the daily prayer life in our family and see it through different lenses. Maybe God is asking me to stretch beyond what I "know" about myself, and He's giving me the best support system for learning to be more demonstrative - my family.

"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings^[f] before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificingthe burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (II Samuel 14-23)

This topic is definitely a work in progress for me....'I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.' ...I will be thinking about this a great deal more.

Please share below any thoughts, praises, struggles you might have with this week's topic.

And please send your stories of how your prayer life has changed and grown to whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org. We are all learning and growing on this journey, no matter how big or small you think your growth might be!

Lisa

Why Pray? Day 36 - "The Vision of Hope"

Hi! This is delton and we are kicking off the last week of Why Pray? The relationship between prayer and hope central to today’s meditation was both encouraging and challenging.   A consistent fervent everyday prayer life for us and our families is essential for a life of HOPE.  I love the call and promise to HOPE found in Isaiah 40.  It resonates deep within me. “Do you not know?    Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

HOPE’s source is God himself and all those who hope in Him have life.  Prayer is vital to that HOPE filled relationship.  Prayer is life line for the relationship of HOPE which God has made possible for us in Jesus.

Today my wife and I went to a wedding celebration in my extended family.  The two young people are devout, active Christ followers.  They have HOPE – they have Jesus – they have HOPE!  Without Jesus they only have limited hope – hope in themselves – hope in their personal best efforts to make a marriage work.  These kids had a HOPE that was so much bigger than that.

As I was engaged with this Jesus-centered ceremony my mind clicked over for a second to a movie I watched recently, “The Descendents” with George Clooney.  It is a raw and unsanitized look at a family walking through some monumentally difficult life situations (coma, death, betrayal, affair, broken relationships)!  For me, it was an portrayal of real life without Jesus – and it was hopeless – even the somewhat positive ending that was supposed to make you feel like everything is going to be ok left me feeling so empty !  The story had so much less hope in it than what Jesus could have brought!

The dramatic contrast of these two experiences is the framework from which I read today’s meditation.  So, Yes - I do believe there is a vital connection between prayer and HOPE!  And Yes – I believe every Christ follower must take the vision of having a Home Of Prayer Everyday (or a version of it) very, very seriously.   I believe as a father and husband, I have an opportunity to redouble my efforts to have our home be a Home Of Prayer Everyday!  HOPE, HOPE, HOPE is what I need, my wife needs, my children need, my neighbors need , the whole world needs and we know the source.   That is really good and really compelling news!

I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Please continue posting “Why Pray?” stories on this blog or send them to www.whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org!  Please consider also sharing anything under the topic “What I have learned from this journey and want to live out…!”   I would love to hear how God is changing our lives.

Why Pray? Day 35 - Bringing the Presence of Christ

Welcome to Day 35!  If you haven’t read it yet, please do then come on back. Today DeVries asks, “Have you experienced the ‘presence’ of God through worship, or through a time of special trial, or in a time of special joy?”  How would you answer that question?  I would have to answer with a big “Yes!”  Let me share my story:

I was blessed with “porch time” this morning along with a couple of good friends.  Our goal (for lack of a better word) was time with God in prayer and ministry to one another on a good, old fashioned porch outfitted with rocking chairs and all.  The setting was serene with lazing dogs, a couple of cattle and a horse grazing nearby; there was no road noise, no honking horns, only crickets and the fluttering of a hummingbird in the bushes.  It was just short of what I imagine heaven might be like.  We prayed for the Holy Spirit to be present with us then started discussing, visiting really, until we sort of stumbled on what God had on His agenda for us.  Well, folks, we loved on one another in God’s Presence until almost noon when we realized it was getting fairly warm and the cooling breeze was all but gone.  Each of us had mentioned that we were amazed that it was “still nice enough to be outside” once or twice but it didn’t get uncomfortable until around noon (I know – who could orchestrate that but God?).  We began to pray before leaving and wouldn’t you know God blessed us with a few more minutes of light wind as we thanked Him for His goodness, asked Him to go with us throughout the day, and worshiped Him.  It was…well, heavenly.

Matthew 18: 20 says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”  If we hadn’t invited Jesus to be part of the conversation on the porch this morning our time would have not been as well spent as it possibly could’ve.  Don’t get me wrong, the girls and I would have had a good time just visiting with one another but God wanted so much more for that time – He wanted to be asked to be part of our morning.  See, He’s the Ultimate Gentleman and will not barge His way into where He is not welcome.  But by coming together in His Name, we were reminded that God desires relationship with us.  As DeVries says, “Remember that prayer is something more than words, it is a relationship with God.  It is the relationship pictured in God, the Father of mankind, knowing our name, calling us, and saying, ‘I will hold your hand.’”  Or maybe, as in our case, He’s saying, “Let’s hang outside and chat for a while, girls.  I’ll adjust the thermostat and run a fan!”  Thank You, Dad; we had a great time with You!!

How about you? I’d love for ya’ll to comment and tell us about a time you experienced God’s Presence!

Jennifer

Why Pray? Day 34 - "Providing Resources"

Please read Day 34 in Why Pray, “Providing Resources” Almost every Christian has a story about God’s provision. Here’s one of mine.

When Sally and I prepared to move to Springfield, Illinois with three small children, we decided to pray that God would provide a suitable home. I prayed for an air-conditioned space where I could work, the children prayed for a fenced-in back yard and Sally for a nearby school.

God answered our prayer.  The house, on a lovely tree lined street, shared the condition of the Dodge motor home described by DeVries in today’s reading. However, it did have a small air conditioner in a dingy basement room, a rickety snow fence enclosing the back yard, and a short two-block walk to the Lutheran elementary school.

It may have been one of the first times that our children were aware that God answered specific prayer requests.  I always had a small regret that we didn’t ask for more.

Please let me know how God has answered one of your prayers for provision. It would bless everyone reading this Blog if you could share an answer to a prayer for provision that has happened since we have been walking through ‘Why Pray?’

In the reading for today, DeVries asks the question, ‘What are you doing in your home to experience God’s miraculous provision?’  I like the picture of a family or a group of a few friends bringing prayer requests before God with the confidence that He hears and answers.  After all Jesus did promise that, if any two of us on earth agree about anything we ask for, it will be done for us by our Father in heaven.

It’s nice to know that the promise also applies to our prayer ministry time on Sunday morning. It is why praying with someone is such a blessing and a privilege.

Don’t forget to share your comments at whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org

-john frahm

Why Pray - Day 33 Function #1: Prohibiting Evil

Welcome to day 33 of "Why Pray?"! John Devries story today, of the morally degraded village and the fortune teller who came to know the Lord along with her family, was amazing!   What is your first thought when you read these stories?   For me it depends on how my day has gone, what mood I’m in, etc.  Sometimes I think, “Could this really be true?”...  or   “Wow, that’s incredible!”... or “I wish I could be a part of something like that.”.... or “Why aren’t I seeing these things happening around me?”.    Those are some of the thoughts I usually have - but I generally ask the question to myself and move on.    Not today though.   And as each day goes by in these  40 days of “Why Pray?”  I’ve been asking God more and more, “What am I missing?”.

I am trying really hard to listen and stay open to what God wants to do with me through this journey.   Honestly, some of the things Devries has said has ruffled my feathers a bit.  He’s so bold, you know?  I’m not exactly theologically astute, but I have definitely found myself questioning the validity of some of the things he says or the way he describes his thoughts.  However, I have loved the challenge of thinking outside of my tiny box that I have put God in!  I have felt totally convicted in so many areas, which I see as a good thing, by the way.  So I’m back to the question, “What am I missing God?”   What comes to my heart immediately when I ask that question is “faith”.   I’m missing faith!  I have faith, obviously - but do I have the faith it takes to grasp and claim the authority I have in Jesus to heal, to drive out demons, to prohibit evil, etc?  I know the right answer is that God’s working is not dependent on my faith - and I totally believe God is sovereign and can do anything He wants whether I have “enough” faith or not... but in the midst of this journey, I can’t help but ask, “what if the amount of faith I have matters in regards to how God responds to my prayers?”   If I’m praying wimpy little prayers and not really expecting God to act... or if I’m afraid to pray for healing for someone because HE may not heal that person - what kind of faith is that?  We serve a supernatural, all powerful God who, I believe, wants to do big supernatural things.  If I’m too afraid to ask, or if ask for such small things that His power isn’t seen, then what a small God I’m saying He is!   Those stories from India took big prayers... big faith... big boldness and courage - and then God answered in a big way.

So what does all this have to do with today’s devotion?  Well, it takes faith to believe and act on the authority I have in Jesus to prohibit evil through prayer!  Devries says, “I am not ‘merely a sinner saved by grace‘  but a royal priest operating from my spiritual position of being ‘in’ the King of kings.  From this position of rule, I have the authority and power to prohibit the demonic spirits from further activity in my village (domain, neighborhood, etc)”.  I have work to do here on earth right now and God has given me the power and authority through Jesus to take charge and to reign.  Imagine what He can do through me if I answered that call with a big faith!    If we can bind on earth and in heaven... and if we can loose on earth and in heaven - that means we have authority.  And if He is there with us when 2 or more gather because we are HIS... that means we have status in His eyes and in His Kingdom.  (Matt. 18: 18-20)

Before I close, I do want to share a quick story with you about prohibiting evil through prayer: My husband and I have a small farm in Elgin.  Last summer, we began to have some horrible things happen on our property.  We had goats dying for no reason and we would come home to buzzards flying over the fields, we had vandalism, we had all kinds of things going wrong with our home, we had a dog that got ran over and killed, we had car issues, we had strange vehicles driving down our driveway at 2am in the morning (in the middle of the country), and the list really goes on and on.  It was the weirdest period of time and it felt very dark and evil.  It was as if there was a curse on our property because this went on for several months... one thing after another.  So in September of last year, I got fed up and saw this as an attack on our property, animals and home.  I decided to walk the property and pray.  I walked it from boundary to boundary praying the whole time.  I bound the devil and his works, I asked for protection for our land and animals and home, and was bold in asking because I was fed up!   God answered my prayers for protection and I believe the devil had to flee because of the authority I have in Jesus.  We have not had any more of those issues since last September.  It all stopped after I walked and prayed.   That was a small step of faith for me - but God revealed His power in a big way.

I believe God has so much for me, so much more than what I’m receiving.  I want to step out in faith, in authority, and in trust and be a powerful instrument for the reign and rule of Jesus!  I want to be a part of His Kingdom coming!   I’ve actually been working through this authority stuff for a while, even before the “Why Pray?” series - but Devries has challenged me in a way I haven’t been challenged before in regards to my status as a child, brother, next of kin to God... and as an appointed ruler.   This is new for me and God is transforming my heart and mind to receive the truth in this!

Thanks for letting me share - if you have any thoughts, I would love to hear them!   Don’t forget to share “Why Pray?” stories by emailing: whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org !

Denise

Why Pray? Day 32 – “Foundation #3: Knowing What We Shall Be”

Please read Day 32 in Why Pray,  “Knowing What We Shall Be.” DeVries shares some wonderful childhood Christmas memories.  He writes, “I don’t remember many of the presents, but I do remember with great clarity the excitement of anticipating the moment when we could open them.”

Oh, how I can relate to this walk down Memory Lane. My dad loved giving Christmas presents.  He spent hours wrapping them with perfectly mitered corners; no tape showing; and bows he would make himself.  He loved the element of surprise.  He was notorious for adding rice and beans or bricks to a gift to confuse us when we shook the package!  That man could take the smallest gift – like a package of socks – and wrap it in such a way that the anticipation outshone the actual gift!  Many years he would put numbers on the packages instead of our names.  The numbers had no logic.  #1 did not mean the oldest child.  #2 did not mean the middle girl!  What fun we had on Christmas morning when he would reveal the secret code and we would be allowed to see what was inside – rice, beans, bricks, and all!  As a parent, I can now imagine the joy he felt watching us the weeks before, trying to figure it all out, and then unveiling the mystery to us on Christmas morning!

I don’t remember what was in the packages with the rice and beans and bricks.  What brings me joy is knowing that my Dad had so much fun loving us by spending hours plotting his surprises, planning the secret code for that year, and disguising and wrapping our gifts in such a way to make us squeal with delight!  Thanks Dad!

DeVries continues, “God has a ‘Christmas present’ called heaven waiting for each of us….What we shall be …. He is keeping that under wraps, wanting us, His little children, to trust Him and live in excited anticipation of His goodness as we wonder that it will be like.” The Scripture Account in Luke is very confusing to me.  It talks about rewards in heaven.  I cannot even begin to comprehend what this means. Again I surrender not understanding and ask, “God, what are You trying to teach me (Dawn) today?”  I think God is telling me that He is preparing a mansion for me in Heaven. He has surprises that I cannot even imagine!  He has so much joy as He prepares this Gift for me.  He asks me to simply trust Him –when the rice and beans and bricks are confusing –when I do not understand His ways –when the Scriptures are hard to understand.  He asks me to trust Him until that Glorious Day when it’s time for the gifts to be revealed!

The next part of today’s entry asked some tough questions regarding the spiritual training in our homes.   First, “Are we teaching our children who they really are?” 

 Maybe one Gift we get to open today is the reality of who we are!

We discussed this as a family last night and our two teenagers delighted us with their valuable insights!  Being a Pastor’s Kid (P.K.) comes with some special privileges.  Who else can waltz into the Pastor’s office, sit behind his desk and use his laptop without asking?  Who else would know the Pastor’s password?  (Besides the Queen!!!)    Because of their relationship with the Pastor, they have also had the confidence to bring many of their friends into his office without an appointment, and say, “Wait here – while I go get the Pastor – I bet he can help you – he’s my Dad!”

The next tough question:  “Are we training them to use prayer as the scepter of their ruling?

The Dictionary defines a scepter as a staff or wand carried as the badge of command or sovereignty; Kingly office or power; to confer the scepter on; invest with royal power. 

Hmmm.   A Scepter.  Maybe another special Gift God wants us to unwrap today is His Scepter.  And who carries a Scepter?  Royalty.  “Are we teaching our children who they really are?”  Sons and Daughters of The King!  “Are we providing the motivation to rule?”  “Are we training them to use prayer as the scepter of their ruling?

We are God’s children.  He is our King.  That makes us Royalty.  Being related to this King comes with special privileges, and responsibilities.   We are His sons and daughters – which makes us Princes and Princesses.  Just like Joshua and Sarah have special access to the Pastor, we too have access to the Heavenly King!  In what ways are we sadly not accessing the King and all that He has to offer in order to make a difference in His kingdom?  What years have we wasted on not using that Scepter of Prayer to access the King on behalf of the people in His kingdom!  What opportunities have we missed using this Scepter to invest with royal power?

Finally, DeVries asks us to “compare the amount of time and energy that an average Christian family devotes to sports with the amount of time and energy devoted to learning to reign through prayer.”

Ouch!  Delton and I have not done a good job on this one!  We have been faithful taking our children to church, praying before meals, and reciting “Now I lay me down to sleep” bedtime prayers.  We have spent countless hours at soccer, baseball, track, softball, and football practices.  We have logged in hundreds of hours at Theater Rehearsals. But we have not the spent even a fraction of that time and energy devoted to teaching them how to pray with the scepter of prayer as a Royal Heir of the King!  What a Gift that would be!  As their parents, we are just now learning this concept at age 50!  Oh, if we were to give them this Gift of understanding prayer in this way – how could they use this Scepter of Prayer in their lives for the Kingdom of Heaven!

How exciting!  I am so thankful for these Gifts God has given me this day!  I am excited to open  and use these new-found gifts with my husband and children as we continue to pray for our neighbors and their families!  How about you?

After over three hours of struggling with this blog I was ready to post it.  I realized that I forgot to provide the Scripture for today - and almost decided to skip it since my Blog is so long.  And then I read it.

I Thessalonians 2:19   For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when He comes?  Is it not you?

Oh my.  Is perhaps the best Gift of all hiding in this verse - amongst the rice and beans and bricks?  Is the best present of all the people that we will see in Heaven that we prayed for with our Royal Scepter?  Are the best Gifts of  all perhaps going to be  waiting for us in Heaven  --- the very people that we brought into our Father's 'Office' and said, "Wait here while I go get the King – I bet He can help you – He’s my Dad!”

-dawn

P.S. Did you know that your comments and stories are wonderful gifts to all who visit this Blog? Please continue to share your comments.  We are also collecting stories of how God is working in your life at whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org

Why Pray? Day 31 – “Foundation #2: Knowing what we are in Christ”

Please begin with prayer for an open heart, before you read Day 31. I heard the word wisdom defined as ‘An understanding of how reality works and the ability to navigate it well.’ I think this is an accurate definition and something that God instills in us, through trials over a period of a lifetime. There is such a tension in working with high school youth and observing their journey, through the wisdom gained of my own journey and a better understanding of God. I am able to witness things that tend to ‘wreck’ someone’s life in high school---the ending of a week-long relationship with a ‘soul-mate’, getting a used car, not being invited to a party, having a curfew earlier than their BFF, or only having an iPhone 3G. I joke a little and know that we struggle with things like this beyond high school as well. So much of this boils down to a question of identity. There is such pressure in high school that is related to establishing or just not ruining your identity! Am I good enough? Do I matter? Does anyone like me? Why do my parents not treat me like an adult? Actions become very calculated to portray and establish the identity we want or that we think others want in us. These questions haunt adults as well and if we don’t get confident in our identity, we will spend the remainder of our life grasping at things for identity that ultimately cannot give us security.

Our faith journey is no different. We abuse God’s abilities when we need them and He is basically a back-up plan when we run out of options or can’t solve something on our own. Devries says that ‘Perhaps one of the greatest tools of Satan has been the lie that we are “merely sinners saved by grace.”’ I think that’s a challenging statement and that it has truth to it. To me, it’s the difference in believing in a propositional truth, instead of receiving an all-consuming identity that births us as a key player in God’s redemption plan for humanity. (Remember---the story of God does not center around us, but centers on Him!!) The expressions of identity through being a New Creation, Bride of Christ, and Brother & Sister of Christ moves beyond mental acknowledgment of sins forgiven and confers identity to all who trust in Him. This guides and drives a lifestyle in the face of opposition in the world!

This identity is received and lived out in humility trusting our gracious Father. I think once we really grasp the extent of God’s love shown through the gift of His Son, it radically alters how walk through every day. It gives us priority, perspective, and purpose. We move from using God to being used by God! Then, prayer flows from this identity given to us and is not just a vacuum grasping at straws to get us through life. It reorients how we pray for our self, our family, and those around us. We typically move from selfish to selfless prayers, trusting in the grace, mercy, and provision of God.

Do you diminish the true story of Christ and the identity that He offers? Have you noticed a drastic switch in where your identity comes from as you came to faith or matured in your faith? Do you believe you are a crucial part of the body of Christ? How would you know if you were using God or being used by God? Does 1 of the 3 identities Devries references resonate the most with you?

I would love feedback on your identity and how your life and prayer life has shifted, because of who you are in Christ.

mike

Why Pray? Day 30 --"Foundation #1: Knowing What We Were"

If you haven't read Day 30, yet, go do so, and I will meet you back here.

Yes, I'm a child of the 80's.

For those of you that aren't, let me share a brief explanation. The above quote is repeated multiple times in a very entertaining movie called "The Princess Bride". Definitely worth a rental at Redbox or on Netflix, if you get a chance. Multiple plot tangles take place throughout this tongue-in-cheek comedy, but one that especially stands out is Inigo Montoya's obsessive hunt to find the six-fingered man that killed his father. He has spent his whole life training, searching, rehearsing, remembering, and singly focusing on this one task - to honor his father - his kin.

As I read today's reading, and kept "trying on" in my head the various aspects of being God's next of kin that Mr. DeVries describes, the image of Inigo Montoya sharing his life's story kept coming to mind. Yes, there are big differences between this character and what God is calling us to be, but I think a few similarities are present as well. Humor me.

1. Inigo made a vow and is religiously seeking to fulfill that vow. He goes throughout his life on a quest to fulfill it and will not cease until he is done. He is not afraid of what people think, he is not deterred by others who try to derail his focus. He perseveres. He is confident he will succeed.

As God's Next Of Kin, aren't I to have confidence like that? Confidence that I can persevere over anything the devil puts in my way? That I can act in the power of my Dad, my Ruler and not cease in His calling for me because of some worldly obstacles in my way?

2. Inigo remembers where he came from. He recites his story to anyone he encounters of what he learned from his father, how his father was a good man, and what he remembers about his father's last day. He asks all he sees if they have "six fingers" (like the man he is searching for) and he explains why. He is proud of being his father's son, and proud to honor his father.

Do I remember "where I came from"? Do I eagerly tell others the stories of my Heavenly Father, and the the things I have learned and experienced with Him? Am I ready to ask anyone that crosses my path if they know Christ, no matter who or why? Am I proud to be a Christ-follower? God's next of kin?

3. As he battled the "six fingered man" at a young age right after his father's death, Inigo realized he did not have the skills to honor his father. In one part of the movie, he shares the story of the sword training he did to make sure he would be ready when the day comes for him to face his father's assassin. He didn't know when that would be, but he was determined to be prepared whenever the situation arose.

Do I spend the time necessary to learn how to have God's authority on this earth and what it means to do so? Do I spend time in relationship with Christ, in prayer and word? Do I seek Him out to be closer and closer to an extension of Him on this world, so my actions, thoughts, and words can't help but extend from His desires for me and those around me?

4. "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Yes, this sounds brutal, but the movie really is a comedy, so please understand this phrase as it is intended. In the movie, Inigo has rehearsed this line his entire life. He rehearsed it so that he would know what he needed to say/should be said when the time was right. The words gave him power and authority to continue his quest to the end.

Do I practice my story - the testimony that I carry of my personal relationship with Christ? Do I know my story? Have I asked what I should share when I am called upon to share?

5. Inigo is a good friend - he listens, he is loyal, he is true. He makes mistakes, but he is ready to admit them and move forward.

Do I really share my heart with God, as a friend shares with another friend? Am I listening to You, God, as a friend? Or do I know how to be a good friend, what that really means in Heavenly or earthly terms? 

Again, there are obvious gaps in this illustration - Inigo is honoring a father that no longer lives and is seeking revenge to do so; we are intimately connected with a very REAL, living God who is calling us to love, honor and forgive. He has created us in His likeness so that is what we strive to fulfill.

I guess I just wonder what would happen in the world around me - my family, my neighborhood, my community - if I deeply sought to live out my connection to who I am - Whose I am - every single day, and if I doggedly, passionately lived to share that truth with all that cross my path. Would it be words, actions, or both? Would I make an "In Jesus' Name" impact so that my Heavenly Father, my friend, my next of kin, would be honored and glorified, and then I could run and jump in His lap and tell Him all about it afterwards? Would I know what I am? Would others know?

Here's the scripture for today: "Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent." (Exodus 33:7-11)

So many questions for me on today's reading. How about you? Please share.

Speaking of sharing -- this week we are beginning to collect “Why Pray? - Stories”!  Please share through the comments for today's blog or send an email to whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org .  We would love any and all stories (long or short) of how God has used the “Why Pray? Journey” in your life!

.....As we close for today, can you stop with me and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you right now to make your own statement of what God created you (us) to be? Try to limit it to just a few sentences. Make it simple, so that it can be shared with people who are not familiar with the Bible. Feel free to share below as well!

God's Blessings to you today!  Lisa

Welcome to Day 29 in Why Pray? – “Developing a Spiritual Self-Image”

The stories in today’s reading remind me of a trip I took to India about a year and a half ago to learn about the intense Christian missionary work happening there.  When I used to read stories about evil like the “curse of the thorns on devil day” my mind would say “yea right” - Not anymore.

The picture above was taken in Varanassi in Northern India.  It is one of holiest of cities to Hindus and Indian Buddhists.  The heaviness and weight of evil was almost palpable in the city.  This picture of a snake charmer brings back such vivid memories of my walk and boat ride tour through Varanassi.  The images and experiences are far too numerous to list here.  The evil control of a village by Satan through a witch doctor as described by today’s reading is definitely possible in a land where the name of Jesus is virtually unknown.  The sights and sounds and images of spiritual bankruptcy, bondage and lost-ness flood back into my mind and heart even as I write this!

The next part of the story - where the little boy prayed to His God Jesus and Jesus healed and freed his grandma from an evil curse - is the best part of the story! This part of the story reminded me of this picture of a Children’s Bible Club we visited in southern India which met on the roof top the teacher’s home.

The joy and life that exuded from these children as they sang songs about Jesus stand in stark contrast to the oppressive spirit in Varanassi. I can just picture little Luke (perhaps like one of the boys on the right) taking the reality of Jesus home to grandma and in the authority of Jesus setting her free!

Devries says we are going to spend this week in “Why Pray?” discovering more about our spiritual self image in Christ and specifically the authority we have in His name.  How did he put it, “We must regain the self-image that little Luke had; a self-image of courage and fearlessness.  … We will see who we really are and be called back to our position of spiritual authority and inexplicable, spiritual power!”

I am very excited about this upcoming week – about learning and experiencing the fullness that God has for us each day.  I think especially about how I am learning to deepen my prayers for the homes and families God has called me to pray for.

Talk to me!  What is going through your heart and mind on this DAY 29?

Thanks for continuing on the journey – Enjoy!

delton

PS.  This week we are beginning to collect “Why Pray? - Stories”!  Please share through the blog or email (whypraystories@pointofgracechurch.org)    any and all stories (long or short) of how God has used the “Why Pray? Journey” in your life!