Prayer Alone Won’t Change Anything

January 20, 2010 — Leave a comment

“. . . whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”                  Mark 11:24 (ESV)

Right before this, Jesus says that having faith in God means that you can speak to a mountain and it will be cast into the sea if you believe what you ask and do not doubt in your heart.  Honestly, contrary to the popular adage, “prayer alone doesn’t change anything.”  Millions of prayers have been recited today to multitudes of false gods.  They will go unanswered.  A whole lot of others have been prayed to the one true God, yet in vain – because they weren’t prayed in faith believing that God would honor His Word. When we pray, we must pray in faith.  Faith means I trust in God’s ability and God’s willingness.  He can.  He will.  Trust Him!

In Prayer
permalink

God Can Do Big Things with Your Small Stuff!

January 19, 2010 — 1 Comment

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”                  John 6:9

The crowd was overwhelming.  Those days, they only counted the men – 5,000 of them.  With women and children, there were probably upwards of 20,000.  Jesus told the disciples to feed them. Now that’s a challenge.  The disciples found a boy with a lunch.  This story amazes me every time.  He came prepared and was also willing to share – but with 20,000 others?  You have to be kidding!  They all learned that little becomes much when you place it in the Master’s hands.  You have something small that God wants to do something big with!  Do you know what it is?  Put it in His hands!  Watch out!

In Giving
permalink

What you SAY is What You Get!

January 18, 2010 — Leave a comment

“And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.”                   Genesis 11:6 (ESV)

God came down to see what unity among people looked like.  He was impressed to say the least.  Building something wasn’t the problem; it was the motivation behind it.   They were looking to make a name for themselves by constructing a tower whose top would reach to the heavens.  They were one in purpose and one in language – all saying the same thing.  Why can’t the body of Christ learn that?  God has stated our purpose clearly in His Word.  What’s left is getting unified in our communication – what we are speaking to each other! Let’s give, pray and fast for unity in the communication of our vision.

In Synergy
permalink

Spiritual Perception and that Extra Slice of Pizza

January 17, 2010 — Leave a comment

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 (ESV)

When you see fasting in scripture, you see breakthrough that comes from a Word from the Lord.  We don’t do without food to get God to speak up.  We do fast to focus our hearts and tune our spiritual ears to hear.  Proverbs 20:12 says, “ears that hear and eyes that see – the Lord has made them both.”  Jesus’ most repeated phrase was, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Everybody in earshot had “ears” on the sides of their heads.  He wasn’t talking about physical ability, but spiritual perception.  Life has a way of dulling our spiritual senses.  Fast something today to be spiritually sharper.

In Fasting
permalink

Pray about it all – Large and Small

January 16, 2010 — Leave a comment

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

A pastor friend of mine recently joked, “My worrying must be working, because 95% of the things I worry about never happen.”  I’m convinced that if God’s people would practice this verse and decide to not worry (be anxious) about anything, but pray about everything, then our lives would be totally different.  Pray about it all – large and small.  Do it with an attitude of gratitude.  Prayers, supplications and requests are all different kinds of prayer that all should be offered up in a spirit of thanksgiving.  What are you thankful for today?

In Prayer
permalink

Tomatoes, Love and Money

January 15, 2010 — Leave a comment

“Give and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.”                  Luke 6:37 (ESV)

A gardener plants seeds.  He expects a crop.  It’s how the process works.  God gave His Son.  He expects a whole family of sons and daughters to be the return on that investment.  But you start talking about expecting something after YOU give and religious people get all up in arms over the concept.  Maybe it’s ok to give and expect love or friendship.  But don’t ever apply it to money.  Why?  Who knows?  It IS how the process works.  Jesus said it right here.  If you give, you will get something in return.  I guess I’m just foolish enough to believe what Jesus said.  Sow – reap.  Plant – harvest.  Give – receive!

In Giving
permalink

The Sound of Silence

January 14, 2010 — Leave a comment

“But Joshua commanded the people, You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout.  Then you shall shout.”                    Joshua 6:10 (ESV)

They all shouted and the walls of Jericho fell.  I don’t believe that’s the biggest miracle in the story.  The day the walls fell, the Israelites silently circled the city seven times and then shouted when they heard the trumpets sound.  Prior to that, they silently circled the city once a day for six days.  The power of synergy is certainly seen in the combined shouts of millions of Israelites.  Some kind of sonic miracle that caused walls to crumble yet didn’t burst their ear drums took place.  Still the greatest miracle is that they were able to circle the city a total of 13 times silently – no grumbling, no complaining!  Wow!

In Synergy, Unity
permalink

A Little about Fasting

January 13, 2010 — Leave a comment

“ In those days, I Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth. . . nor did I anoint myself at all for the full three weeks.”

Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV)

There are several different kinds of fasts in scripture.  Moses, Elijah and Jesus all fasted food for 40 days.  A total fast includes both food and water and shouldn’t be done for longer than 1-2 days.  The covenant nation of Israel (which included the livestock and the children) was called to that kind of one-day fast numerous times in their history.  This “Daniel fast” is a partial fast – fruits and vegetables only.  He didn’t eat anything heavy so that he could focus on prayer and spiritual things.  Try a Daniel fast for 2-3 days. Then fast one whole day without food drinking only water.  Take it in steps.

In Fasting
permalink

No Wrestling Required

January 12, 2010 — Leave a comment

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”

Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

People who are bound in religion and haven’t truly known Jesus in relationship see prayer as a chore.  It’s a job that must be done in order to convince the Almighty either through begging or ‘vain repetition’ why He should do something for us.  It’s unfortunate how some are bound in a kind of striving mode like they have to wrestle something out of God’s hands.   Jesus deals with the simplicity of this beautiful relationship language called prayer in Matthew 7 by reminding the people that they know how to give good gifts to their children – how much more does your Heavenly Father?  Just ask!

In Prayer
permalink

Success and the Stuff to Make it Happen

January 11, 2010 — Leave a comment

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be. . .”

Isaiah 55:10:11a (ESV)

God’s generosity is amazing.  He gives us the success principle and provides us with the substance to make it happen.  Remember in the Garden, God placed Adam and Eve in an environment where everything they needed was provided.  To reap, one has to sow.  To sow, one must have seed.  God shows them how and then says, “Oh by the way, here’s the seed too!”  God gave us the seed we are sowing, so we could obey and trust Him to multiply it back to us so we can do it all over again.  What are you giving?  What kind of return are you expecting and praying over your seed?

In Giving
permalink