Prayers

"For Thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."
Psalm 18:28

Jeffrey dutifully tended the lamp that hung by the altar. The flame had not
failed in over thirty years. Throughout that time, Jeffey had daily filled
the lamp with oil. People throughout the church marveled at this dedication
and persistence.
 
One day Jeffrey took sick and had to go to the hospital. Friends stopped in
to see Jeffrey, and as each one left, he lifted his head and said,
"Don't forget the light, okay?"
 
One women, puzzled by the urgency of Jeffrey's reminder, asked him why the
little lamp meant so much to him. His eyes grew misty, and he said, "That
light means the world to me. When I was young, two lights came into my life:
my wife and Jesus. My wife died, but then I let Jesus die to me. But now,
the lamp reminds me that so long as it shines, both of them are still alive.
I guess it wouldn't matter if the lamp went out, but it's important to me."
 
God sends light into our lives in many ways. The greatest light of all is love,
and we know love through His greatest gift, Jesus Christ.
 

Shine forth through the dark reaches of my life, O Light of the World, fill
me with Your blessed warmth and glow. Shine through me for others to see.
Let me be Your love in this world. Amen.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss has been hospitalized with an undisclosed form of cancer, according to multiple media reports.

Not sure of his religios convictions, but he and family need prayer.

Holy Father, grant us the ability to know You, even as You know us.  May we be in tune with Your eternal will and purpose.  Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may reflect Your glory and power in purity.  Forgive us when we fail, and empower us that we may bear much fruit and come rejoicing before the Judgment Seat of Christ in that blessed day.  We pray in Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen.




Luke 13


Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.


Greg

For the last 46 hours, I have watched the Penn State dance marathon (THON 2013) to raise money for pediatric cancer.  They have been doing this for years, and now the Four Diamonds Fund has been able to open the pediatric cancer wing of the Hershey Medical Center.  This year, THON dancers and their supporters and the clubs that do fund raising year round raised over $12 million For The Kids (FTK).  To date, Penn State students have raised over $100 million for Hershey Medical Center's pediatric cancer research and treatment (did you hear THAT on the news? only local Philly Channel 6 covered it).  If you watch online, you get to meet dancers, kids in treatment who get to play like crazy, their families, and the doctors.  You laugh, your cry, you cheer.  This is the largest student run philanthropy in the world.  Praise God for leading PSU students to do this, for those who are healed, for families who don't ever have to see a bill or pay for a meal, for students who visit their 'adopted' kids and families while at home and in the hospital.  God bless the families and friends who lost little angels in the last year and praise God for the hundreds of kids who are in remission or are cured and have moved on with their lives.  God is good and these families and PSU students testify to that.  What an amazing experience!  "Inspire Tomorrow's Miracles" is this year's theme.

Lord, thank You for touching so very many and for working in their lives through difficulty and through healing or homegoing.  We praise You and ask that You increase our faith and raise up more workers for You in Jesus' name, Amen

FTK! For The Kids!
Sissy    

I am getting the honor of being part of a new church plant team in Little Rock. Little Rock First Assembly of God's first scheduled service is set for 3/2/13. Please keep us in your prayers! This church is being planted 1/2 mile from the high school I grew up in and I know this area needs to know the Lord. I used to run wild on these very streets.

Thank you all for your prayers and know that I lift this thread up and all needs daily.    


Gary

I am getting the honor of being part of a new church plant team in Little Rock. Little Rock First Assembly of God's first scheduled service is set for 3/2/13. Please keep us in your prayers! This church is being planted 1/2 mile from the high school I grew up in and I know this area needs to know the Lord. I used to run wild on these very streets.Thank you all for your prayers and know that I lift this thread up and all needs daily.  

Get ready to be challenged and blessed in ways you can't even imagine yet, Gary.  Some of my best memories are of being intrumental in a church plant in Spring Hill, Fla.  For a period of about 8 years, me and my family helped an Evangelical Free Church come to life.  A group of us met in homes for a few years, got a mother church to sponsor us.  We hired a bi- vocational pastor- who was also a physical therapist.  The members grew to over a hundred vital vibrant believers, and we secured land and in a few short years built a building.  By the sixth year, we were financially indpependent.  Our bi-vocational pastor moved on to plant another church, and we called a full time pastor. 

I served as an elder during that time.  I learned much about the Word, but also about how the Lord wanted to use the gifts in the local assembly.  The stories of His miraculous healings, provisions of money, guidance, and of the people he used to bless lives are endless.  They are precious memories/lessons that I draw on still.  It's not so much that the Lord doesn't continue to use us as much in the different seasons of our lives, but our ministries change as to time and place.  Now, I reach out to unbelievers at work more, and minister in small groups settings.  In many ways, this is more challenging because the way forward isn't always as clear.  The time of house churches and church planting, however, is a shining moment and a precious memory.  In a godly way, I envy you that. 

God bless you, brother. 

Greg 

P.S.- Also be aware- the enemy hates this work.  He will bring those in to try to steal the blessing and direction of the work- usually in the guise of "wolves in sheeps' clothing".  If our experience taught us anything, don't be anxious to accept new members just to build numbers, and accept into leadership those with previous leadership experience.  They are often "former leaders" for a reason.  We had some come in try to split the fellowship- all the while using pious pretexts and high sounding words to deceive.  I'll pray for you.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handywork."
Psalm 19:1

 

This day, we need to stop for a moment to open new eyes to the wonder of God's world. If
we will only try to see it through His eyes rather than our own, we will find new beauty
that we never noticed before. His is a world of wonder and miracle. See it!
 

Lord, open my eyes that I might see all that this world is meant to be. Do not let the
pressures of the day create a cloud that prevents me from seeing Your beauty. Amen.

Gary, you and the new church will be in my prayers.  Greg has given some excellent advice from experience.  I have also seen the blessings of a group meeting in a home move to a Bible study in a meeting room of a pizza store finally to become a large church that now supports its own K-12 school system!  God can bless and grow such endeavors if you stay within His will.  What seems like good 'business' decisions may not always be good Godly decisions; pray without ceasing and we will join you!  I have also seen churches invaded by situational Christians--proclaiming the word of God until/unless it applied to them or their families, and then the fighting starts.  Seek counsel from others who have successfully planted churches so your mission and your rules and procedures are Biblical and firm from the start.  I know you will always be led by God; be sure those around you as also so devoted.  The time is short and the workers are few--God is looking for faithful servants, and praise God that He has found you and continues to use you in powerful ways!  We will stand with you in prayer, dear friend!

Sissy

Let us keep the family and friends of Dr. Buss in our prayers.  He passed away today.  May our Lord comfort those who mourn and lead them to the truth of eternat life through Him.

Please pray for Dr. Jack Kevorkian. 

He was a wonderful and noble man. 

Please pray for Dr. Jack Kevorkian.  

He was a wonderful and noble man.  

Praying for this thread and all you come here. Be blessed today!

Gary

"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Psalm 19:9

 
Realizing that what you do is wrong is the first step. Fearing what might happen because of what you do is the next step.
Fear can be a healthy thing for us when it forces us to clean up our lives and walk the straight path. Once on the right
path, we can leave fear behind, for nothing can harm us once we are in the Lord's camp. God's judgments are righteous
and true, and He will always help us make the changes that allow us to clean up our lives, if we will only ask Him to. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Once you confess your sins and accept the forgiveness and righteousness
provided for you by Jesus, perfect love casts out fear.
 

I need to respect You more, Lord. I need to be reminded that Your way is the only way so that I won't be so tempted to stray.
Be with me to guide me. Amen.

Master, I concur with your request. 
Good to see this thread is still going strong.  Sissy, hope everything works out for your friend either way it is a long struggle ahead for here.  The scripture you just posted is so true, Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

There is a controversy over Tim Tebow appearing at the First Baptist Church in Dallas over the pastor's statements regarding the gay lifestyle and the salvation of many who are not orthodox Christian.  You may disagree with his manner of stating these views, but the Bible is controversial.  Unfortunately, Tim got caught in the middle of the crossfire. 

   The Bible says what it says.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life- no one comes to the Father but by Him.  He is not a way.   There are not many paths to God- that's pious nonsense.  You may not like the message, but take it up with the One who said it- not the messenger.  Sexual sin applies to "hetero" sleeping around as well.  Sin is sin.  There is only one way to salvation.  Those who pervert the gospel will answer for it.  If it adds/substracts to faith in the blood of Jesus for forgiveness and trust in him as resurrected bodily to redeem us, it is error.  Period.  That's not hate- that's love.  You and I did not deserve it, He gave it.  If you reject the one way, you insult the value and need of the sacrifice.  That's hate- of the savior who bought you with a price- His blood. 

Romans 10:9,10

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

1 Corinthians 6:

Sexual Immorality

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[b] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[c]

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

"Some trust in chariots, and some is horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 20:7

The simple faith of a single man or woman is a mighty thing. Trust in the Lord, and you will marvel
at all that can be done.  Whether it is the strength to endure an illness, the courage to step out
in faith into new endeavors, the wisdom to prepare for hard times, or the reliance on God and not
human government for justice, with God all things not only are possible, but all things good and
right will be established in His time.
 

Make me faithful, Lord. I doubt so often, and I put my faith in other things. Those things will
pass away, but I know that You will endure forever. Thanks be to Your love and grace. In
Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen, Greg.  I saw that and looked into it.  The media is trying to force everyone into political correctness.  I will stand for Biblical correctness!  "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!"  I believe Tim Tebow is sufficiently mature in Christ to have looked into the matter before making his decision and not just let media pressure sway him.  He's used to taking undo criticism as it is.  There are some "churches" I would not want to be associated with because they base their teachings on a few verses of scripture and end up being a disservice to our Lord.

As the days get harder and darker, let us pray for all brothers and sisters to increase in discernment and stand firm on the word of God.  Pray also for those who do not know the Lord to be open to the gospel message.  We pray for our government, but I am mindful also of the passage in Isaiah that says "Woe to those who govern with evil edicts."  Righteousness, wisdom, forgiveness, discernment, and much more are imparted to us by God, and we need His gifts now more than ever.

Be God's!
Sis    

Saeed Abedini is the American pastor who was originally Iranian, and who has traveled to Iran to visit families and encourage the Iranian house church movement.  He is currently imprisoned and tortured in Evin prison for his testimony of Christ.  His sham trial was done in secret, and neither he, nor his attorney were present.  Christians in Iran- and throughout much of the Middle East suffer for no other reason than naming the Name of Jesus their Savior.  Muslims demand that those who make caroons, or write books they deem are not sufficiently respectful of their prophet or or Allah be killed.  Yet, Christians, or those whose conscience dictates that they be true to their faith in Christ are not accorded freedom of speech or religion- they are even denied basic human rights.  Such hypocrisy isn't only offensive, but outrageous and uncivilized.  If Iran wishes to be respected and joint the community of civilized nations, they need an attitude adjustment. 


[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/0
2/22/imprisoned-american-says-irani
an-captors-waiting-for-me-to-deny-c
hrist/]




    
     

Pray for the Body of Christ in persecuted lands, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, and China, foremost.

1 Corinthians 12:


Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
 
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
 
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 
Greg

I am getting the honor of being part of a new church plant team in Little Rock. Little Rock First Assembly of God's first scheduled service is set for 3/2/13. Please keep us in your prayers! This church is being planted 1/2 mile from the high school I grew up in and I know this area needs to know the Lord. I used to run wild on these very streets.

Done! The Lord Bless you and be Glorified through this plant!