JER-333

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

It works!!!

I received a phone call last night that was very encouraging. The person called to say she was able to spend time with God in prayer and was able to stay focused because of what she has learned the past month and on Sunday, 2-25-07 during the "Proseuchomai" series. It works!!! She was able to sit for a time of scripture reading, life reflection and prayer in the evening. She was pumped on the phone. I am pumped as I type. It works!!! I am so thankful she called. It encouraged me in my prayer life. If you and I will just place a little effort into our relationship with God we will begin to grow in our faith and want to share it with others. It works!!!

I know what you are saying. "Well, good for her. She probably had nothing else to do." Wrongo. She is married to a husband who is full out most of the time. She is the mother of five children. Yes, she is insane. She is an office manager for a large company. She wakes early and goes to bed late. Her life schedule is full as she is a social butterfly (kinda). She does like to party. YET, she carved out time for proseuchomai. WAY TO GO.

Take heart all you busy people. Take heart. You can do it!.

Thanks for calling ___________. You know who you are you saint of God. THANKS.

For SCC - ADPD and WMD 2.25.07

On Sunday, 2.25.07 the series about prayer came to a happy ending and we discovered a few simple hints that will help us overcome Attention Deficit Prayer Disorder (ADPD) and Weapons of Mass Distraction (WMD). Focused Prayer. Prayer Time. God Speaking. These seem to be oxymoron's, and yet they are not. We can experience a time of speaking to God and hearing from God during focused prayer.

In order to help you overcome ADPD and WMD try the following:
1. Make the time and find a place for prayer. Carve out some time during the week to spend time with God. Find a place or places that allow you some silence and stillness in your life.

2. Start short. Five minutes is a great place to start. If you go over five minutes that is fine. Just start. A good way to start is stat short.

3. Develop a system. You use systems everyday. You have a system for waking in the morning, preparing for the day, progressing through the day, ending the day, etc. You may realize you are using systems, but you are. Developing a system or plan for your prayer life will help you stay focused. Develop a pattern or patterns that help guide you. You can use the acrostic of ACTS = Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. You can focus on your family, including you, then move to your friends, and them begin to speak to god and hear form god about your daily and weekly schedule. A system I use during the day to help me stay in tune with God is STP = Stop, think, Pray. During the day when I am transitioning from one event to another I will take just a few seconds to stop (pause), think (reflect), and pray (a whisper to God or just seek to listen). STP happens in a matter of seconds and is a simple system.

4. Keep in mind that prayer is about a relationship. Prayer is conversation God. Prayer is communicating with God. God desires to relate to you. He takes pleasure in your time with Him. You do not need any magical words or have to know any big churchey words in order to pray. Just begin to speak to God and He will listen and answer.

5. CHANGE. Change will occur in you life as you begin to pray. Be open to God and allow Him to work in your life as you grow in your relationship with Him and others through prayer.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 found in the Bible

Over the past couple of weeks I have had numerous opportunities to pray with people over the phone or after meeting with them personally. It has been a charge for me and them. A simple and short time of praying together. The prayers consisted of thanksgiving, confession, asking, praying for others, specific request and general request. During these times there was even some silence (weird). Not really. We did not try to impress one another because we know each other to well and any "fake prayer stuff" would have been noticed real quick. We were able to pray big which I noticed led to praying humbly and realizing just who is God, and it was not those praying. At one time I prayed while on the cell phone with another guy while he was on his cell and we were both driving. That is dangerous prayer. Not for those praying but for those in vehicles near those who are praying. It was a little strange bowing my head and closing my eyes in order to pray while driving at light speed. God guided. Really, if you pray while you drive please keep your head up and your eyes open. These short and simple prayer times boosted my personal prayer time and have helped me "Be still and know that God is God and that He will be exalted among the peoples or nations" (Psalm 46:10).

Ephesians 3:20-21

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 found in the Bible

For SCC - 2.18.07 God, is that You?

Throughout the Bible their is story after story of God relating to man and speaking people. In Genesis 3:8-9 God enters the Garden wanting to speak with Adam. God calls out to a young boy by the name of Samuel in I Samuel 3:1-11. Elijah hears God in a breeze in I Kings 19:9-14. God speaking to people. People hearing from God. As we continue to learn about prayer and hope to improve our relationship with God in and through prayer we need to learn to discern the voice of God. God desires to relate to us and and speak to us. He longs to reveal Himself.

As we pray it is helpful to understand that God answers all our prayers. His answers may come in the for following ways:

No - pretty clear

Slow - wait

Grow - personal growth

Go - yes

God speaks to us through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, others, nature and circumstances.

Helpful hints hints for hearing God:

Read the Bible

Seek to align yourself with God and His ways

Be attentive

Develop relationships with godly and caring people

Act on what you know

Prayer Quotes

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. - Abraham Lincoln

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. - Oswald Chambers

Before we can pray, "Lord, Thy Kingdom come," we must be willing to pray, "My Kingdom go." - Alan Redpath

Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden. - Corrie ten Boom

Happy Valentine's Day

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16-17 found in the Bible


16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I John 3:16-18 found iin the Bible


1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights, His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-9 found in the Bible

Colossians 1:9-12

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:9-12 found in the Bible

Proseuchomai

(pro-yoo-khom-ahee)

To pray

For SCC - 2.11.06 Pray, "In Everything"

As we continue our "proseuchomai" series it is evident that peoples lives are being touched. This past Sunday was fun, challenging, and encouraging. Chris Fritzsinger and GLARE stirred out hearts with the song "Hold Fast". Both DVD clips made us think about prayer and our relationship to God via prayer. Remember February 11 and March 11. Pray in everything. John Davenport shared from the following passage Scripture.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He focused on "in everything" and presented to us the benefits of moving from a life of worry to a life of praying. He also challenged everyone to not just hear from God, but to act in obedience to God. We are to live a life of joy, gentleness, thanksgiving and prayer that will be followed by blessings and hope.

This week open your Bible to Philippians 4:4-7 and read through it several times, ear mark the page refer to this passage often and Pray, "In Everything".

Bold Prayer - Bold Answer - Bold Living

29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:29-31 found in the Bible

Prayer Quotes

"Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness."

Richard C. Trench

"The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."

F.B. Meyer

"Do not make prayer a monologue-make it a conversation."

Author unknown

"Our prayers must mean something to us if they are to mean anything to God."

Maltbie D. Babcock

Chocolate Chip Cookies

We should be like the 3-year-old boy (that Paul Harvey told about) who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask."She put him up in the cart & he sat in the little child’s seat while she wheeled down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. He saw the chocolate chip cookies & he stood up in the seat & said, “Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you not even to ask. You’re not going to get any at all.” So he sat back down.They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle. “Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you that you can’t have any. Now sit down & be quiet.”Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this may be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart & shouted in his loudest voice, “In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?”And everybody round about just laughed. Some even applauded. And, due to the generosity of the other shoppers, the little boy & his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.

This story has been circulated on the net and can be found at various websites.

Luke 18:1-8

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " 6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Luke 18:1-8 found in the Bible

Luke 11:1-13

1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' " 5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:1-13 found in the Bible

For SCC - 2.4.07 Ask. Seek. Knock.

Ask. Seek. Knock. Sunday we looked at Luke 11:1-13 and Luke 18:1-8. These passages of Scripture encourage us to be persistent in our prayers. Ask. Seek. Knock. Words of action. As we are persistent in our "proseuchomai" we move from the passive prayer life into the active prayer life. When this happens we move into a new dimension of communication with God and and God communicating with us. When we are persistent we are...

..purposefully entering into the presence of God.
..showing to God just how important the matter we continue to take to God is to us.
..living by faith.
..seriously looking for a "yes" from God

Persistent prayer pointers:

• Actively and consciously turn worries into prayer.
• Purposefully pause during the day and offer your request to God.
• Begin to set a regular time during the day when you purposefully and actively communicate with God. Hint: start with just three minutes per time. Pretend like it is a phone call appointment with God.
• Memorize a few verses about prayer, faith and living a God honoring life.

Proseuchomai

STP - Repeat Post

"Whew, what a day." This is a phrase I have used and I know others haved used to describe a day in "everyday life." A full work day, family matters, school, shopping, household stuff, twist and turns, crash and burns, blah, blah, blah. "Whew, what a day." Good news. God created the days and the nights. Great news. God cares about mine and yours days and nights. Really good and great news. We can speak to God and hear from God in "everyday life." STP. Stop. Think. Pray. STP. Richard Petty, a NASCAR guy at one time did commercials for this gooey oil stuff called STP. Richard Petty and Mario Andretti were awesome drivers, one in NASCAR and the other in Indy. I digress. STP was to be added to your oil in order to help your car run smoother. Well, I do not know much about the STP that Petty promoted, but I do know that STP (Stop, Think, and Pray) can calm the heart, soul and mind if we will practice Stopping (a brief pause between daily transitions), Thinking (What just happened, what is next, where is God in all of this), and Praying (a quick word and an open heart to God). STP. Stop. Think. Pray. Add a little STP to your "everyday life." "Wow, what a day."