Praying in a Crisis

I received the following email today from a friend. It was certainly timely as I had just found out my brother was in a mine accident.

READ | Numbers 21:6-8

When was the last time you got on your knees and cried out to God about something other than personal issues? We’re often so involved in our own busy lives that we fail to see the crises others are facing. I’m talking about situations that don’t affect our immediate family at all, rather than, say, the deployment of a soldier we know or a terrorist attack on our land. But whether circumstances touch total strangers or hit “close to home,” doesn’t it often feel as if such matters are just too big for one person’s prayer to make a difference?

This is a lie straight from Satan. He wants us to assume that cataclysmic or tragic problems are too vast for our petition to have any effect. Scripture disagrees: James 5:16 assures us that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” And verse 17 provides a powerful example: “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.”

Almighty God is able to heal, bring peace, and change circumstances. And He has chosen to let His children participate in the process through prayer. He instructs us to talk with Him about everything (Phil. 4:6) and promises to hear when sin does not obstruct our communication (Ps. 66:18).

The next time you hear of a tragedy or problem—regardless of whether it affects people you know or perfect strangers—resist the temptation to distance yourself from it. You can have an impact on the lives of others when you intercede on their behalf. So let news of a crisis become a catalyst for prayer.

Spiritual Growth

I was thinking about spiritual growth this morning. As Christian's we should be going from glory to glory to glory. To often we become stagnant, if we are not growing we are standing still, once you have stood in the same place long enough you become stagnant. Just like a pool of water that has nothing flowing into it. We need the holy spirit continually flowing in our lives. Too often in our busy society we do not take the time or make the effort to keep his presence fresh. One quick way to keep your spirit man fresh is by daily devotions. One of the best daily devotions I have come across is by Kim Potter at A New Thing Ministries. I encourage you today to check out her site : www.anewthingministries.com there you can sign up for her daily newsletter. If growth is what you need, and I think we all do, you will not be disappointed by this anointed Woman of God.

READ | 2 Timothy 1:1-6

Paul admired the faith legacy that was passed down to Timothy by his mother and grandmother. Although Eunice and Lois could not bestow their belief as if it were a material heirloom, they certainly modeled the value of trusting in the Lord. Whatever Timothy’s monetary birthright, his greatest inheritance was spiritual instruction from these influential women.

Mothers and fathers who desire to create a faith legacy will make the following values part of their lives:

Principles. You yourself must practice the Lord’s principles. Parents can’t teach what they don’t know. But those who live according to God’s Word and find His ways effective will eagerly share the lesson.

Pattern. You must go beyond simply talking about principles, and live them in front of your children. Lifestyle speaks so much louder than words. A consistent pattern of obedience to God inspires others to seek Him, whereas saying one thing but doing another can turn children off.

Persistence. You must be determined about gaining spiritual knowledge. I learned this wise habit from my mother, who set out to instill in me the values I’d need to become a godly adult. To teach a particular lesson, she’d keep telling and showing me until she was satisfied I’d gotten the message.

Timothy’s mother and grandmother were not intent on merely raising a boy. Rather, they desired to train up a man of God. Judging from Paul’s letters, they achieved that goal because they themselves were devoted to the Lord. Can you say the same of your life? It’s never too late to begin crafting a faith legacy.

Living in God's Calling

READ ESTHER 3:13; 4:4-16

Knowing that we have a calling from the Lord is one thing, but living it out is another. Esther reached a point in her life when fulfilling God’s plan became risky and dangerous. The Lord had placed her in a position of influence, but using that power could cost the young woman her life.
Few are called to be kings or queens, but we have all been given places of influence to one degree or another. The Lord has placed you in your family, community, and church to fulfill His purposes for your life in this generation. As long as you are breathing, He is still working out His will for you.

How will you respond to His calling? There are only two options: cooperate by submitting to His plan, or resist Him. Trying to avoid or ignore the opportunities He presents is a form of resistance. Maybe the cost of obedience seems too high, but what about the cost of disobedience?
Eventually, every Christian is going to encounter a situation that tests his or her willingness to obey God. When that time comes, remember the lesson from Esther. If you refuse, the Lord will use someone else, and you will lose the opportunity to fulfill His calling. Maybe you have been placed in a difficult situation “for such a time as this”—to be an influence for Christ in our dark world.

Living in God’s calling isn’t always easy, but it is always worth the risk. Each step will reveal the faithfulness of our Lord, encouraging us to trust Him in the next opportunity He provides. As our faith grows, His perfect timing will become evident, and we’ll look with joy and expectation for what awaits us.

E Women 2009 Free to be Real Conference

We Just got back from the Ewomen 09 Free to be Real conference in Johnson City, TN. It was an amazing weekend! We were able to hear from some of today's most inspirational Christian women. There were also opportunities to visit and get their autographs that I may have taken advantage of had I not had an injured knee.

Among the speakers were:

Comedienne -Chonda Pierce
Best Selling Author -Stormie Omartian
New York Times Best Selling Author -Karen Kingsbury
Best Selling Author and Popular Speaker -Angela Thomas
Christian Music Artist -Kathy Troccoli
Best Selling Author, Speaker and Singer - Michelle Mickinney Hammond
Christian Music Artist - Charles Billingsley
Christian Music Artist - Matthew West

These folks have an amazing love for the Lord and the body of Christ. If you have never been to one of the ewomen conferences I highly reccommend that you attend one, you will be refreshed in the Lord and have an awesome time with other christian women, and the praise and worship is Spiritually moving and unforgetable!

Check out their website : www.ewomen.net