Day 2/3
July 02 2010 | My Life | 3 Comments »
Praying Outside the Box
Sometimes it feels like I am still figuring out the most basic aspects of this Christian walk. One thing has become apparent over the last several months. It started when I began opening up in conversation to my friend Bekah. She also began discussing intimate issues with me. During these discussions I would receive very clear answers to problems that had riddled me. As we spoke, I would say this very clear answer sometimes even before I had discovered it. As I would hear the words from my mouth, it would take me by surprise. God’s presence would come on me, across the back of my shoulders, that light touch somewhere between tingling and goosebumps that let’s me know it’s Him that is answering. Stranger still, the issues that we discussed, concerns very close to our heart, began to be answered also. I began to see that my definition of prayer might be very limited for a God without limits.
Doesn’t His word say, “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am also.” Let’s get real: this form of prayer is much more enjoyable than the other. You know, “getting on your knees before the Lord”. (hey! It turns out I can say/feel things like that. It’s called grace 
) So, I began to let this outside the box prayer spill over into my prayer life. I began to talk things out with… myself on my runs, walks, on my bed at night. Crazy at I might look, it worked. God interrupted my “conversation”.
Maybe this is more what prayer should be-plain old, heartfelt conversation with my sisters & brothers in Christ and with my own spirit. It seems so simple like something I should have known all along. Sometimes I just have to figure out the practical application of things. You know, the how behind the what. It something that much of the church has failed to do for me. So I’m just putting it out there.
June 09 2010 | Christianity Today | 1 Comment »
5 Tools to Develop a Prayer Life
How to Develop a Prayer Life
#1 JUST DO IT: Praying does not require some consecrated time in some ordained place with the right mood and right setting. When you have the thought to pray for someone, do it. Right then. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t say to your friend, “I’ll pray for you.” Instead say, “Let’s pray.” Right then, bow together and pray. When something good happens. Pray right then and thank God. Procrastination is a major tool of the enemy. If he can get you to put it off, he can probably get you distracted enough not to do it at all.
#2 SET ASIDE TIME: Also, set aside a time of the day each day to pray at length for issues. Use your lunch hour, before you go to bed, or when you wake up. Choose a time that you would be at your best and most likely to actually do it. Praying is a lot like working out. You have to commit time to doing it each day. Also, like working out, start with a shorter segment of time, then build up gradually.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:6
#3 USE A PRAYER JOURNAL: Write down prayer requests, needs, scriptures that you used in prayer in a prayer journal. As your prayers are answered write that down and pray prayers of thanks. This will build your belief (agreement with Faith) and renew your mind to the power of prayer. Like working out, results are motivating.
Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. Hab 2:2
#4 USE THE BIBLE AS YOUR GUIDE: Use the Psalms or other Bible verses as a guide for prayer. Read aloud the promises of God back to Him. He loves His word. Prayer is really coming into agreement with God’s plan and purposes; so, the Bible is the perfect guide. Be attentive to the Spirit. When you come across a verse and you feel the Spirit move within you, stop there. Meditate on that one verse. Speak it aloud… slowly. Concentrate on the different emphasis of different parts of that scripture. Don’t move on until the Spirit is satisfied within you. Sing it aloud back to God. Singing scripture is a powerful tool. It resonates, literally and spiritually.
Let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself… Ezek 3:10
#5 BE LED: Prayer is a conversation. This involves listening and letting the Holy Spirit lead you. Don’t just go into prayer with a list and a couple of scriptures that you have outlined to lead your prayer with God. Be still before God and let His Spirit bring to mind sins that you have not realized, people that you had not thought of to pray for, verses to meditate on…. You will find that when the Spirit is leading, prayer becomes something much more powerful. You will long for prayer much more than if you had sat down with your outline and gone at it.
But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1Cor 2:10
November 07 2009 | Christianity Today | 3 Comments »
Pray It, Don’t Preach It
It really upsets me (probably a little more than it should) when people use prayer time to preach. Prayer is an opportunity to come into agreement with God, a time to join up with Him to do great things that are on His agenda. In our prayers to God, He loves to hear His word back to him, but so many times I hear not His word but the person’s praying words, thoughts, and opinions. I’m praying for compassion for those that make this mistake, but it has really hit a sore spot. The church today does not pray nearly enough, but then when she does, she waste vital time praying horizontally to influence others rather than vertically. If you want to do that, get a blog. Don’t waste the powerful eternal appointment of prayer.
Ok, I’m off it…
August 12 2009 | My Life | 1 Comment »
Call In Truth
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. (Ps 145.18-19)
In my quiet time the other night, I studied Ps 145:18-19.
The Lord is near to all who call upon him…IN TRUTH.
To all who call upon Him IN TRUTH…He will fulfill the desire of those.
What does this mean… in truth? As I was praying I asked God what does it mean to call upon him in truth. His response… with sincerity. This means that we are to come to God and call on him with sincerity, a pure heart focused and in love with him.
Not only are we to be sincere with God, but also with ourselves. If I am coming to God, calling on God, praying for a husband, is this my sincere, true desire? Am I ready for that kind of relationship? Is it really what I want? Or is it because of the world’s view of singleness?
God is so wonderful that you can ask him for sincerity of heart, and he will give it to you. Ask him if he will focus your mind, and sweep away the distractions. He wants nothing more than time where you are only calling on Him, focused on Him. He knows you even more than you know yourself. So, when you get to know God, the true desires of your heart are revealed to you & to Him.
January 08 2009 | Christianity Today | No Comments »
Dodge Ram BOGO Sale – Auto Industry in Serious Trouble
Buy One Dodge Ram, Get One Free, that’s what the ad reads running in Rob Lambdin’s University Dodge. And this deal is legit. You can really walk onto this lot and purchase one Dodge Ram and get the second completely free of charge. The industry is in SERIOUS trouble.
Just yesterday the Automotive Industry big wigs flew in to Washington on their private jets to ask the government for a bail out. That’s like pulling up to my mom’s in a Lexus and asking for a 20-spot. Are you for real? But honestly, this is going to mean serious hard times for many Americans.
Here are the opinions of one NPR listener:
For years they have not developed cars to be more efficient and less dependent on oil products. The CEO’s are out of touch with their private plane travel and big bonuses. The union workers see that all of that and want their unrealistic share as well. It is time to downsize, go bankrupt, renegotiate with the unions and retirees,get rid of the greed CEO’s and boards and prevent new CEO’s and boards from duplicating this again. No way should any money be given to an industry who can not tell you what they would spend the money on. I understand Wall Street and the banks needed to be bailed out or the financial aspect of the US would be gone. Why do we need to bail out an industry who obviously can’t change? Who will be next to ask for a bail out?
Another listener stated this:
While I believe that many mistakes were made over the years in the auto industry, there seems to be a lack of fairness in the treatment of the industry.
Why are there tax breaks for the oil industry in order to help the energy situation, yet the auto industry has to meet increased CAFE standards on its own?
In Michigan we are told that for years our state has been a net tax donor. Now that we need help, where’s the love?
Mr. Paulson wants things like limits on executive pay, and other controls tied to aid to the auto industry, yet this wasn’t required for the financial industry. This double standard is hard to swallow.
So, is this unfair treatment? Was the financial industry the oldest sibling whom it’s government body parents bailed out and learned their lesson to not repeat again? Either way, it looks as if the US government has made it’s final decision to no bail out the automotive industry. But hey, at least we can get a free truck out of the deal before we feel the real impact to our economy and people.
I pray that our leaders are making the right decision, and I would urge you to pray for all of those that will be affected by this turn of events.
November 21 2008 | Christianity Today | 3 Comments »
