True Relationships Among People Point to God

True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together. -- Henri Nouwen

Grateful

I Depend On Your Prayers

Years ago while in Bible college, my missions professor, Dr. Phyllis Perkins read a letter to our class from a missionary. The final line in the missionary's letter was: "I depend on your prayers." I have never forgotten the heart-wrenching plea.

As a local pastor now for over 18 years, I know firsthand what the missionary meant. I too depend on the prayers of God's people. Sometimes people pray for me by e-mail. Below is a sample of a prayer that one dear person recently offered to Almighty God on my behalf:

Heavenly Father, we thank you today for your work in creation and the abundant blessings that we have as Your children.

We thank you for the glorious gospel; the gift of your Son Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and man.

Thank you for the gift of pastor, which your Word says you gave to your church "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12, 13).

Thank you for Pastor Kerry and his faithfulness to your cause, for the Bible says, "it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Thank you for his personal commitment to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour and to the Word of God.

Thank you for the love he has for his wife and family demonstrating a stable and healthy family. For the Scripture says of church leadership, "he must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect" (1 Timothy 3:4).

Thank you for his thoughtful exposition of your Word, as he heeds your call to "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

Thank you for his leadership in our church services and the orderly manner in which he leads us, seeking to fulfill the Biblical call that "all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Thank you for his interest in the flock under his care and the burden that he carries for your people.

Thank you for Kim and her compliment to his leadership and her service and thoughtfulness as well.

May you continue to confer your richest blessing upon this ministry couple as they seek to fulfill their call amongst us and thus bring You glory.

In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Note:The humbling thing about the prayer above, is that I am not formally the pastor of this precious praying person, but they have adopted me as their own. I am humbled beyond measure, because indeed I do depend on the prayers of God's people.

Grateful

Effective Prayers

Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.
-- James 5:16b (GWT)

In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Grateful

Loud Cries And Tears...

Hebrews 5:7 (NRSV) really spoke to me in the early morning hours today:

Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to The One Who was able... and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

...We Will Never Pray.

If we wait until we know how to pray, to pray, we will never pray.

Lord, teach me TO PRAY! Lord, when I pray let my prayers be personal, intimate, and effective, not powerless, imitations, and ineffective. When I pray, let my foundation be a right relationship with You. In the Name of Jesus. Amen

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. -- James 5:16b (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL! I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Passion Play 2010: Oberammergau, Germany

In the coming days I will visit Germany's Passion Play in the Bavarian Alps with 40 other Jesus journeyers. Yes, the village of Oberrammergau will be our first stop on this, our 2010 Holy Land pilgrimage -- On the Road to Jerusalem With Passion. This will be my second visit to the Passion Play, having made my first visit in 2000, and this will be my eighth sacred pilgrimage to the Land of our Lord. These two links below are worth your time -- behind the scenes looks at The Passion Play and a brief history account of the amazing event in the Alps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwTSqBAOoTw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=867gl7OdEAY&feature=channel

Thanks for your prayers for our safe passage to Germany and Israel and back home again. This morning I received this blessing from a dear friend: Hope you have a wonderful and joyful trip. I pray for safety and great encounters.

In the words of the Wise Men in Matthew 2:2 (MSG), We are on pilgrimage to worship Him.

GODSPEED!

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.