how

Isaiah 45:15
Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.

God chooses Cyrus the Persian, king and enemy of Israel, to do his bidding, defeating another enemy, the Babylonians, and bringing the Israelites back to their homeland. We don’t know when God is at work in human history but we know he is at work. How can so many good things happen in spite of human sin? Only God knows.

Pray for God to open eyes to his work.

everywhere

Isaiah 43:1-5
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

Christianity is the fastest growing faith in the world. Especially in the South and East. North Americans and Europeans have a hard time understanding this because they seem to be missing out on all the fun! Unlike any other faith or worldview (except, perhaps rock music) Christianity brings people from every culture together, with at least one thing in common. Trust in Jesus. This appears to be enough.

Pray for Christians in North America and Europe to share the love of Jesus.

pick

Isaiah 41:10
9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

If you played games or sports at recess, you got picked to play. It could be a brutal experience to be picked last. I guess we all just have had to learn to get over it.

There is one team where we are always picked first. The team is followers of Jesus and the game is service. Game on!

Pray for youth sports leagues.

christcast 25- video

Dana and Kristina return and talk about getting ready for college and High School Musical!!

eternal

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

If God exists the way Christians claim, he has to be able to operate outside of our space and time dimensions. This explains his eternal existence. Outside of our time, God doesn’t need to be created because “beginning” co notates our time dimension. It is scientifically logical as well as spiritually that God can be eternal without a creation.

Now, for Christians that have a hard time with thinking there was a Virgin Birth, carefully read the above paragraph again. Can God move outside our dimensions and within them? Do you get it? Ponder.

Pray for expectant mothers.

live

Psalm 91:16
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.

People worry so much about aging and spend billions trying to slow it down. Good health is a good idea; so don’t knock it. But, the obsession of staying young is a bit different. It can take on a quality of living as if this life is all there is. I realize some people think this, so do I have a solution for you!

When our lives are fully lived in God’s kingdom, there will be the fulfillment of the new creation, where Jesus rescues us for good. So, the time period of our human life now is nothing compared to our eternal life as part of the new creation. Long life is what every lover of Jesus has to look forward to. Forget cryogenics. Try the new genesis!

Pray for those with arthritis today.

normal faith/extraordinary results

the story of Ruth shows us how God works in powerful ways behind the scene

care

Psalm 33:15
…he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

How does God care so much for us that he considers everything we do? No parent with a video camera stuck in front of his/her face for the whole childhood of their special child competes with God who follows all his creation every second of every day. God is way more proud papa than angry judge when it comes to watching over us.

Pray for God to see you doing right today.

healing

Psalm 23:3
…he restores my soul.

The most popular psalm certainly, if not the most beloved words of the Bible. This is a quiet peaceful song/poem until you realize every verse is about God in action. He is doing everything necessary to bring life to us as fallen human beings.

Nothing is more important than to heal our “sin-sick” soul; that which is so beautiful about us as his image bearers that we stain chasing after our own desires, not his. We aren’t a lost cause. Restoration is one of his specialties.

Pray for God to work hard on your soul.

ahead

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Where is God in your life? If he is front and center then the confidence available in his name is amazing. Nothing can get in the way of God accomplishing what he wants through you if you remain focused on him always ahead of you preparing what you will discover.

Pray for more attention to God’s signs before you.

small things

Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

It is not improbable that God works in our lives. Chances are you have seen this happen. What is fascinating to me is considering God working through mundane matters like lumber for your house. Here is the situation. Either God is big enough to actually be interested in our everyday life or he is not. If God is big enough, then we don’t get to tell him what should interest him.

Pray to God about some little thing today.

waiting

2 Chronicles 32:7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.”

God’s power does not come from brut force. God is always in charge even if it seems that he is far away. It isn’t military power, financial power, diplomatic solutions, nothing that comes out of humanity that will bring ultimate goodness to the world. We work for justice in all those arenas but that is all. Only by turning to Jesus and putting our lives in his hands will the world be changed for good. And this is exactly what will happen. In the meantime we wait and we serve.

Pray for those who wait.

gracious

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.

When we are standing up for God’s ways, we are many times going to go against our culture. Christian disciples are actually called to be radically counter cultural. This means that if someone is against you for following God, you do not attack or withdraw. You stick with God, and graciously treat the one who opposes you with respect. God will figure it out. He always does.

Pray for those who think they are doing the right thing opposing God and his ways.

source

2 Chronicles 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

King Jehoshaphat is a remarkable ruler. He is a wise king of Judah, and not only does he follow God’s ways, he sends his government officials to teach the people, as well! O, that the Christian community would have such passion to seek God’s guidance.

Read a chapter of the Bible today and pray concerning what you read.

wanted

2 Chronicles 1:22 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This passage is about King Asa, who gets rid of all the idols in the land, and then even other tribes come and live with him as his kingdom is right with God. There is no compromise or nuances when it comes to being a follower of Jesus. You are either with him or seeking him. If you are forsaking him because you think you have something better in mind, he won't stick around. Doesn't really like to spend much time where he is not wanted.

Pray for those who are seeking to learn more about Jesus.

the meal

1 Chronicles 29:14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

This is from King David's prayer in thanksgiving for the offering that has come in to build the Temple. What we give God is from God. He enjoys our giving generously though he certainly doesn't need it.
It reminds me of the process of shopping for groceries and the cook who prepares a luscious meal. The gift of the meal is the love that
goes into preparing the offering, not the ingredients themselves.

Pray for all those involved in food services.

protect

vacation- pre-dated to follow

2 Kings 6:16-17 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

I have this passage in mind whenever I am in situations that there is need of protection. It could be driving a windy road or protecting against my own sharp tongue. I also pray this covering over our children. They haven't returned singed by the fire but I know they are being watched over.

Pray for the protection of your loved ones today.

God-filled

1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

In worship, we are not the participants, we are the witnesses. We mainly see God’s Spirit at work or we mainly see people at work. You can tell the difference and it doesn’t have a lot to do with enthusiasm, entertainment, awe or reverence.

O, all those can be expected when God is at work. Yet, you can tell the difference. It is about being authentically open and expectant that the Spirit is there. Already waiting for you. Just don’t do too much to get in the Spirit’s way.

Pray for those who lead worship.

sinners are the hope of the world

we are sinful but Jesus still uses us to bless the world
can we actually change enough to be an influence for good in others?
Colossians 3:1-11

rescue

2 Sam 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

“Rescue” is the key to the story of God’s people, not escape. We don’t get out of having to live in the reality of life. There is no way to try to convince ourselves otherwise. There is no secret wisdom that makes us immune to pain, suffering, or disappointment.

Yet, in the middle of it all, someone is absolutely thrilled we are here. The one who gives us our existence in the first place. There is nothing that gets in the way of his love, and this includes many rescues along the way. Even the greatest rescue of all. From ourselves.

Pray for firefighters today.

marching on

2 Sam 5:24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

Have you ever suffered because you did the right thing? Have you ever been unfairly treated and yet didn’t strike back in revenge? Have you been misunderstood because you follow Christ rather than your own desires?

God is marching ahead of you. Can you hear him?

Pray for patience and strength for those suffering persecution today.

follow

1 Sam 18:12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

Saul has known God’s hand all his life. Now God is gone. Do you think he realizes what has happened? The evidence of life without the Lord is all around him. He begins comparing himself to David and blames him for his situation. Fear and anger become his new companions. Despair has arrived.

It’s tough to follow the Lord, but it’s a lot tougher not to.

Pray for those who are resisting the love and influence of Jesus.

in charge

1 Sam 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

God is in charge. He doesn’t need human means or power to accomplish what he wants done. Instead of a standing army, his greatest strength marches on in an embryo growing quietly in the womb of Mary. The closing battles continue, but the war is already won.

Pray for the peace of your household.

no God

Judges 16:20 Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you! He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

Samson didn’t follow the Lord’s ways. He wanted to follow his own path. He chooses the wrong direction and is influenced by Delilah, who also doesn’t follow God. So, what do you expect will happen?

Keep ignoring the wisdom and guidance of God, and he will honor that decision. Eventually, we get what we want, even when we don’t want God.

Pray for an increase desire for God.

mercy

Judges 6:16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

God doesn’t need numbers when he defeats evil. All are as one with Him. This makes it all the more remarkable that God treats us as individuals. Instead of destroying us as one because we are human and sinners, he opens for us new life through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Each of us is invited to taste the mercy of Jesus, and have our lives restored. If you want God in your life, you get him.

Pray for forgiveness in doubting God’s power.

Good Samaritan

the Good Samaritan for today

complete

Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Still another reason to have confidence in the God of the Bible. He is there for us. What would it be like to be in relationship with God as Moses was? We have that access and more through Jesus. We don’t have to think about what it would be like, we open ourselves to God’s Spirit and it becomes a reality.


Ponder about being confident in God today.

Jeshurun

Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty."

"Jeshurun," is a poetic name for “Israel,” that appears four times in the Bible. The God of Israel (Jeshurun) is everywhere, poetically described as soaring in the universe ready to right wrong. Whenever we look up in the sky we can’t help but think of being immersed in God’s protection.

Take some time looking up during the day and night.

peace

Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

During modern times of war, those who are in charge generally aren’t on the front lines. This makes the United States Air Force intriguing in that per capita, it’s officers see much more combat.

Jesus leads God’s peace brigade and gives his life for the sake of his own people and for the sake of his enemies. What kind of leader is Jesus? The only one who will actually bring lasting peace. How does eternal peaces sound?

Pray for those in the armed forces that they will be protected and bring protection, justice and mercy.

good odds

Deuteronomy 28:6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.

When God calls people to follow him, he expects them to obey his teachings. In Deuteronomy 28, there are 14 verses that speak of blessing that will come as God’s people obey, and 53 verses talk of the curse that will befall those who say they trust but do not obey.

Well, that’s about a 4 to 1 curse to blessing ratio. Which is just about the reality ratio of how much we get messed up when we follow our own ways. Following Jesus, God promises he takes the curses, while the blessings remain. Nice odds!

Pray for Jesus to reveal himself in a friend’s life today.

the source

Deuteronomy 8:17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’

Quite often there is a sympathy for the atheist who has no one to thank for good fortune. The great danger of atheism is to consider yourself the ultimate source of all good in your life, because at some point, and repeatedly, we all fail miserably. Despair for your own failure follows, or anger if you transfer the blame for the failure outside of yourself.

Followers of God are not exempt from this, either. We spend a lot of time taking God for granted, and taking credit when things are going well. I have a lot more in common with an atheist than he/she might realize.

Pray for an atheist or agnostic friend today.

discipline

Deuteronomy 8:5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

When the Israelites experience hard times in the wilderness wanderings, it is ultimately for their own good. That which is challenging and brings pain, suffering, anxiety, and discomfort might be exactly what we need to grow and be built up in character.

Not always though. Much of the time our troubles are the result of our own sin or those who sin against us. Yet, God can make good out of that, too. There are no wasted moments to life on earth. Just opportunities to grow.

Pray for someone going through hard times today.

original staff meeting

Num 17:8 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

In the passage for today, there was constant “bickering” among the Israelites about leadership. The miracle points to Aaron as head priest. Now, God does extraordinary things. On rare occasions he goes all out with the spectacularly miraculous, like changing a walking stick into a tree. However, similar to what I wrote yesterday, I don’t necessarily want to see huge miracles coming from God’s direction. Most often in the Bible, this happens if God’s community is in extreme conflict or crisis and he appears in a “wow” way to remind everyone who is in charge. I’ll take “normal” miracles, if you don’t mind.

Pray for God to show you his way today.

angels

Num 7:89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.

The cherubim are angels, and the statues to represent them symbolize the presence of God always being worshipped and glorifed by these heavenly beings. Angelic messengers are sent by God to speak when necessary. I don’t necessarily want to hear from them, however. In biblical history they often appear when there is crisis or when you are messing up!

Thank God for the heavenly hosts today.

blessed

Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

This is called the “Aaronic Blessing” (as in the blessing Aaron, priest and brother of Moses gives to the Israelites) and is used in both Jewish and Christian worship. Today, we talk of connecting with someone “face-to-face.” This metaphor for close communication is nowhere more true then when a lover of God meets his/her beloved. We ache for the Father’s approval, not always realizing we are approved already before we do a thing.

Pray for God to teach you how blessed you really are.

presence

Leviticus 25:18 "Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety."

Through Jesus, "the land" is where Christians dwell. It is not a "place" as much as a "presence." Wherever they go, as they are disciples of Jesus, following his model and teachings, he goes with them. They become an influence for love, peace, justice, and holy living, wherever they find themselves. The Shekinah never stands still.

Pray for greater opportunities to shine for Jesus in the coming week.

approach

Leviticus 16:2 The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.”

We see in the history of God’s people that there is a progression of revelation by God. To approach his awesome nature, one has to be specially chosen, like Moses, or to a lesser extent, his brother Aaron. Finally, through Jesus, God becomes approachable without any barriers. All along, there is a sense of having as much of God as we can stand.

Thank God for Jesus who gives us direct, no-holds-barred access to all of his glory.

coach Jesus

who is the most brilliant and effective coach who ever lived?
coach Jesus

worship

Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

God’s Shekinah fills their place of worship. When the Israelites come together to sing God’s praises, they needed no lamps. When we worship God, we use electricity for the lights, but we continue to pray for God to provide the Shekinah.

When you worship next, pray for God’s presence to fill the room in a tangible way.

light

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

When Moses spoke with God, the light and energy of God would enter Moses. This is called God’s Shekinah. The closest analogy I can give today would be Moses appears radioactive. This experience points to the one greater than Moses who is God himself. Jesus is transfigured before his followers and it’s way more than just his face (Matthew 17:1-6). How is Christ’s light shining through you today?

Pray for the light of Jesus to come and fill you.

for every nation

Exodus 34:10 Then the LORD said: "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you.”

When you step back and look at it from an unbiased, non-agenda point of view, it is astounding how much God accomplishes in human history among people who call upon him. One of the biggest wonders is how multicultural Christianity is compared to any other faith or philosophy of life. Examples:

secular: university educated affluent white Westerners
Islam: while not dominated by Arabs in total numbers, overwhelming dominated by Arab language and culture
Buddhism: overwhelmingly Asian
Hinduism: overwhelming Indian

God said, “Through you all nations of the world will be blessed.” He continues to be God of his Word.

Pray for Christians in Togo, Iran, and Uganda

rest

Ex 33:12-16
14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

There are so many commercials for sleep aids these days. Lunesta, Sominex, etc. Can it be as simple as a right relationship with the Heavenly Father?

Don’t dismiss this thought so quickly…Why don’t you sleep on it?

Pray for those who are having trouble sleeping.

straight ahead

when we follow Jesus straight ahead, without wandering, it's actually the best adventure of all

tent

Ex 29:45
45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

God instructed Moses to construct a “Tent of Meeting” where God would appear to his people. God says in this way he will live with the Israelites.

Well, with Jesus, God is with all people forever. Immanuel, God with us. There is no need for a tent. Jesus is as close as our attention.

Pray for those who are camping this summer.

it's about God

Ex 19:9
9 The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.



God doesn’t speak from too many clouds today. So, how do those of us who preach and teach warrant a listening ear from our “flock?” If you aren’t a preacher, how about in your walk with the Lord, why should people trust what you have to say?

Does it make sense through the filter of the Bible? Is it about Jesus? Does it draw you to him? Does it promise you freedom from those things that bind you? Am I trying to manipulate you or am I simply inviting you to join me on the path of the one who is the truth?...

Pray for preachers and teachers you know that they would be men and women of integrity.

fighting God

Ex 14:14
14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

This passage is in the context of the Egyptian army ready to destroy the Israelites on the edge of the Red Sea. They have escaped out of slavery from Egypt only to get into this hopeless appearing situation.

But, not so fast.

Today, the fighting might be a little different but with God there is always victory in the end. Interesting how much work God does when we don’t try to orchestrate what we think he ought to be doing.

How could God fight for you today?

finger of God

Ex 8:19
19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.

The “finger of God” is a visible sign that God has broken into our space/ time dimension. Signs of God are evident in the intricacies of nature, events of history, and everywhere else, for that matter. If you are open and willing you will see. If you aren’t, you won’t.

God already knows this and yet, he keeps showing up.

Watch for the “finger of God” in your day today.

speech lessons

Exodus 4:12
12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

When God tells Moses to speak to Pharaoh and tell him, “Let my people go!” Moses has a million excuses. This is God’s response. He will be Moses’ speechwriter/ his Henry Higgins (remember “My Fair Lady?”).

As a preacher I wonder how much of what I say is actually from God? I’m not deliberately trying to fool with people, but obviously when God uses me, he uses a human who has his own knowledge of the facts, opinion, personality, passions and the rest. Thank God he can sort through all that.

You might be very good at serving others through your actions as a disciple of Jesus. How are learning to speak for God?

perspective

Genesis 39:2-4
2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.

When God is in our lives other people do notice. When God is not in our lives people notice, too. But, don’t be too keen on using material success or positive influence or integrity or whatever good qualities as a total measure of your with-God-ness. Think of it this way.

Maybe someone is being totally blessed by God and yet they don’t appear to have strong favor from God. No great health, wealth, or influence. What we might be missing is this. What would their life have looked like without God? It might have been a real disaster. It all has to do with what you start with. For that individual, the changes might be remarkable.

Spend less time comparing yourself to others.

whose the boss?

Genesis 28:20-22
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

God is so patient and understanding. Look at what Jacob is really saying here. “God if you do this, this, and this, then I will worship you and give offering.” Can you imagine trying to make a deal with God like he is supposed to do what you want because you worship him and give offering? How could Jacob be so naïve and arrogant?

O, yes, I forgot, that sounds a lot like me sometime…

Ask for forgiveness today for taking God for granted.

in dreams

Genesis 26:24-28
That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

When God appears to Isaac the Scripture says, “That night…”

In the context I assume Isaac is dreaming. When God appears while you are sleeping it is a dream and when he appears while you are awake it is called a vision. At least that is the way the Bible speaks of it. All I can say is, “WHOOAAA!!! Who am I LORD that you come to me directly? Next time, just send an angel.”

Although, it’s not as if an angel in the middle of the night is not going to scare the heaven into me either…

Have you heard the voice of God directly in a vision or dream? Has God ever sent you a sign?

matchmaker

Genesis 24:7
"The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there."

Here we see God works directly with Abraham. God steps in when God deems it necessary. Then we see God sends an angel to guide the servant of Abraham to find Isaac a wife. God creates angels before the creation of the universe, and one of their functions is to let us know God is with us. They can act as messengers, and in cases like finding a wife for Isaac, guides.

Pray for those who will marry this summer.

getting ready for vacation

Friends-

We are going on a family vacation blogfree. I will prepost next weeks daily thoughts and then be back up live on July 2.

Dana

distant

Genesis 4:16
So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

After murdering Abel, Cain is banished by God, but not destroyed. He enters the land of Nod, East of Eden.

Where is East of Eden today? Anywhere where God is not present? Where would that be? Nowhere.

Anywhere where God appears absent? Where would that be? Could be anywhere. It depends on us.

God comes as Jesus and restores His Kingdom as we live in its midst and in His midst. We are invited to live in the new creation where God is always present.

When does God seem distant today?

God walk

Genesis 3:8
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.

Anthropomorphism- is the attribution of uniquely human characteristics and qualities to nonhuman beings, inanimate objects, or natural or supernatural phenomena.

God is non-physical being. Yet, the Bible describes God as walking around here. Is this just a myth the early God-believers made up in order to tell the beginning of the story of God and his people? Or is God awesome enough to take on these characteristics as God?

Good question.

When does God seem close today?

the importance of fathers

Are fathers simply throwaway DNA donors who come out of patriarchal exploitation?
Hardly-
a Father's Day message on the biblical view of father

stardust

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Though the Bible is not a science book, it is rather interesting that the creation of humans from dust is the way the Bible talks about it.

Fast forward to modern physics and space exploration where they are studying star dust. A recent NASA mission was actually dubbed, “Stardust.”

"We want to find out what this stuff is like," said Dr. Donald C. Brownlee of the University of Washington, the chief scientist of the mission. "It's the building block of planets and human bodies."

Indeed, Joni Mitchell sang it in “Woodstock,” “We are stardust…”

Pray for those involved in space exploration.

beginning

Genesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Notice God speaks of God’s self in the plural. In the Christian tradition, we see this as a clear indication of the Trinity. In the context it makes so much sense. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is enjoying abundant life together from eternity, and now wants to share this mutual self-giving love, encouragement, and joy with us. Somehow, even our care giving of the creatures of the earth will take part in this.

What can you do today to give yourself to God?

with God

For the last 24 weeks, I have commented on selected Bible verses on prayer, compiled in the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible. I will continue this practice with the topic of “The With-God Life.” Here is what the Spiritual Formation introduction says:

The With-God Life: The Bible is all about human life “with God” and how God has made this “with-God” life possible and will bring it to pass. The name Immanuel, meaning “God is with us,” is the title given to the one and only Redeemer, because it refers to God’s everlasting intent for human life- namely, that we should be in every aspect of a dwelling place of God.

Pray God makes himself present to you in more intentional ways.

amen

Revelation 22:21
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

This is the last verse of the Bible and how appropriate that it ends in an, “Amen.” I like to think of the whole Bible as communication between God and people. This sounds similar to a definition of prayer. If we look at it this way, the Bible is a prayer. As we read it, cherish it, wrestle with it, and pray it, the Bible is source and foundation for everything else.

Amen

with angels

Light some incense or a scented candle as you pray today.

Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, sent up before God from the angel's hand.

What an image this scene brings to mind. I like the phrase, “from the angel’s hand.” Angels, like all of us who love Jesus, pray to him. There is something exciting and comforting to know our prayers continue forever. This also means once they go out to God, they don’t die out. Let our prayers cover the world!

Pray for every specific continent today.

like incense

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

The Bible says our prayers are like “incense” that rises to God. I love this metaphor. Something fragrant and soothing slowing filling the air with an atmosphere out of the ordinary. If we use our imaginations we can envision ourselves covered in this prayer. We and all those others who pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Light some incense or a scented candle as you pray today.

wait

Jude 20
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

Jude is addressing the same situation as Peter in Monday’s post. Jesus is coming. What do we do? Be built up in our faith and pray in the power of the Spirit.

Now, we may all be in different places in our lives, yet this teaching is the same for all. Pray.

Specifically ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers today.

end times

1Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

When we consider the end times and the return of Jesus, it is always around the corner. It will either be the actual time, or we will die and enter into the heavenly dimensions. Either way and we are to be ready. Ready does not mean confused and anxious. Clear-minded and self-controlled sound so different.

Would that we could face all challenges of life in this way. We can as we focus on prayer which centers us like nothing else.

Pray for the coming of Jesus.

our garden

-the pornography industry is right in our own backyard
-gang violence is an all too real pox on our community
-we have been called for a time such as this
-God has placed us in charge of caring for His creation...His garden

marriage

1 Peter 3:7
Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Here the Bible is speaking of husbands honoring their wives. By doing so we follow God’s instruction. Honor your wife, husbands, because they deserve it and God wants it. Why else?

Apparently, the strength of God’s blessings are linked to our faithfulness. Not that God doesn’t bless the “just and the unjust,” as the Bible states, but there is certainly an emphasis of favor when God is honored. So, in this example, honoring our spouses is an important way to honor God.

Pray for marriages in your circles of friends today.

the Trinity

are you confused by the teaching of the Trinity?
don't be...listen to this

the poor

1 Tim 5:5
5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

The Bible has several examples of God’s focused attention on the needs of the poor. From the evidence in the Bible, and what we know historically, Joseph and Mary would be classified as, “working poor,” today. So, God himself comes into our world as poor and vulnerable. He understands and responds to the cries of his people.

Pray for the poor in your community.

God keeps his promises

don't underestimate the power of God to make wrong things right

always hope

1 Tim. 4:4-5

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

These verses refer to the change in food laws for Jews who have become Christian. Foods aren’t prohibited any longer. I am not a huge fan of vegetables and so I would question that everything is good, but I eat them anyway!

We do well to remember that anything God created can be made good by his power. Even people who do evil and hate God. Through God and prayer, no one is beyond hope.

Who seems hopeless and needs prayer today?

uplifted

1 Tim. 2:8
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Lifting hands in prayer and worship is a common practice throughout the Christian world (other faiths, as well). In the Bible, the word for “thanksgiving,” is literally, “lift up your hands.”

When we lift up our hands we show God there is nothing in them and all that we receive comes from him. When we lift up our hands it’s as if we are pointing out a magnificent work of art and saying, “Wow!”

God is magnificent. God is good. I lift my hands to his majesty.

Pray with hands uplifted today.

Spirit power

following the lead of the Holy Spirit brings power
saying all you need is the Holy Spirit brings trouble
what's the difference?

without ceasing

1 Thess. 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

In the King James English language, this is the second shortest verse in the Bible. How simple and how challenging. Keeping constantly in touch with God (simple instruction) and actually doing it (challenge).

Why would we want to neglect God in prayer? Only if there is something we don’t want to talk with him about and then we need him even more.

Pray every hour on the hour today (for example, you can set a watch countdown alarm).

strive

Col. 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

It is not unheard of for someone to be “wrestling” with God. We even hear of a match with Jacob (Genesis 32). Yet, this wrestling in prayer sound like it is a fervent struggle bringing someone else before God. It is overwhelming to think of the love Epaphras must possess to spend all his time in prayer for others. Maybe this is why the name “Epaphras” means beloved!

Who are you striving to prayer for lately?

vow

Col 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

What does it mean to be “devoted”? To “devote” comes from the Latin word meaning, “to vow.” Devoting yourself to something is not just a casual assent. It is a vow. A promise. We are told to be very careful with what we promise with God. Can you promise to speak with him regularly and follow through with it?

Think of prayer as a vow during this week.

worry

Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

When you pray worry goes away. When you don’t pray, worry stays, gets shoved in the subconscious, or you become hardened. Any way you look at it, it is totally logical to not to worry about anything and pray about it, instead.

If it is a matter that you don’t have any influence over, your prayer will bring strength. If it is a matter you do have influence over, then joining with God as your partner will only help.

What do you and God need to consider today?

need

Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

There are times when you feel overwhelmed because there is so much need in the world. You can become cynical and jaded. Or you can pray.

Praying for other brothers and sisters in Christ around the world is a way to stay connected as family. With the Holy Spirit taking charge, we know our reception is excellent no matter where.

Pray for Christians in China today.

challenge

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Who are you thinking about when you read the verse above? Chances are it is someone dear to you who brightens up your life. What if it is a co-worker who makes your day miserable? What if it is a nosy relative? How can that be?

Think about this. The person who forces us to be more patient and forgiving is a person who is doing us a favor. We are growing in our Christlike character in part, due to an environment they are helping to create. So, pray away!

Who can you give thanks for today who expands your graciousness?

"hidden" clues to Jesus

does Jesus reveal anything about himself when you consider the natural world?

being prayed for

2 Corinthians 1:11
And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

It is a humbling experience to realize your life is enhanced by the prayers of others. You don’t spend too much time getting too impressed by what you are accomplishing when you have the knowledge of others holding you in prayer, let alone knowing the Holy Spirit is lifting you up even if there is no one else.

Give humble thanks today for people you know are praying for you.

Spirit

1 Cor. 14:13
So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.

Speaking in tongues is a spiritual discipline for some Christians. It has the paradox of focusing on God by abandoning focus. God can encourage and strengthen our faith using this discipline and we do well to pray to understand if we do pray in this way.

Speaking in tongues or not, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you this day.

spouse

1 Cor. 7:5
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Intimacy between husbands and wives is a gift from an intimate God. There are times that we focus on the Lord so strongly that all other connections fade into the background. This is not to be an extended time, however, as our bond encompasses all of who we are, and provides strength, as well as fulfillment of desire.

Pray for married couples in your circle of friends.

family

1 Cor. 1:4
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

When our loved ones trust in Jesus and follow him, this brings joy and blessing to us and a sense of being on the same team together. We often thank God for those we love, and we know the more they love God the more they share his love with us. To desire this is not as selfish as it is an accurate reflection on reality.

Pray for the faith of family members.

two more prayer thoughts

Note: I am catching up after a trip. Here are two.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Notice this verse doesn’t say, “When we do not know what we ought to pray for?” Does this mean we never know what we ought to pray for? I think that is exactly what it means.

There are prayers we leave out that we forgot about. There are things to pray about that we aren’t aware of. When we come to God in prayer, there is more going on than we realize. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit’s got us covered.

Give thanks to the Holy Spirit throughout the day today.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

If we are faithful in prayer, then we will be joyful in hope and patient in affliction. It’s funny how that works out.

Make a list of your greatest hopes.

two

Acts 22:17
After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.

There are times when prayer is so consuming that you lose track of time and place. In this particular trance, Jesus appears to Paul. To pray with such intensity that you lose focus of the world around doesn’t guarantee Jesus will show up visibly. There had to be a reason Paul needed to see Jesus at this time.

Yet, know for all of us, as we pray, Jesus is present.

Find a quiet time and place and pray with unusual intensity today.


Acts 28:8
As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

By being used to heal Publius’ father, all the sick of the island of Malta came to Paul for healing. Publius happened to be a VIP. Heal his dad and the word gets out. I don’t think Paul did the healing for publicity. The guy was sick and needed healing. Yet, God uses the situation for further blessing.

Pray for a celebrity who is sick.

free

Acts 16:25
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

Having spent some time in prison ministry, I have seen how prison life can be excruciatingly monotonous. Hurry up and wait. Paul and Silas put their time to good use. At 12 a.m.!! A little evening worship never hurt anyone. Actually, as Paul wrote, later, “in Christ we are free.” What prison?

Pray at midnight tonight.

women of faith

Acts 16:13
On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.

Luke, the author of Acts, accompanied Paul on some of his journeys. This makes eyewitness accounts so detailed. Here we see women meeting for worship and prayer, a scandal in the day for Jews, Greeks, and Romans. The Christian influence in these cultures when it comes to women is astounding, light years ahead of anything else witnessed in the ancient world at the time.

Pray for the women of faith around you.

ministry

Acts 14:23
Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders for the churches they started. Notice their prayers are for the churches to be led by God. In other words, it is not their place to be overly enmeshed with the church as if its future will somehow be about them and not God. Can we hand over ministries we have been part of to God’s care?

Pray for a ministry you are involved in.

how can the Church best influence society?

in the first two centuries the Christian church was rejected and respected as it swept through the Greco-Roman world with radical love and holiness...
Same thing happens today when Christians are Christian

how much?

Acts 13:3
So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

How much prayer is necessary? You can never have enough since prayer can easily accompany action in any given situation. We pray more when we desire to connect more. It’s not to say you will always hear exactly what God wants you to do, but it does make it more likely you will be open to hearing more clearly with less your agenda clouding the wisdom.

Pray before you are thinking, while you are thinking, and after you are thinking.

understanding the Bible in under an hour

what is the Bible really all about?
a description

can be downloaded at ITunes "Christcast"

prison

Acts 12:5
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

It is such a powerful experience to have people pray for you during challenging times. Many a Christian in impossible situations has had their faith strengthened and hope secured. When we pray together as a church, we connect with brothers and sisters in the faith who are undergoing extreme hardship, especially in places of persecution today.

Pray for Christians in prison because of their faith. See www.persecution.com

vision

Acts 11:5
5 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me.”

In prayer we are open to seeing in our mind what God has in mind. A vision is an extraordinary visualization that occurs when we are awake. A dream occurs when we are sleeping. I have never had a vision like Peter’s. Then again, this is some vision. After all, this pretty much changed the way God’s people look at the world for the rest of eternity.

Envision what your life might be like if you gave God an extra 20 minutes of attention every day.

offering

Acts 10:4
Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!

Little do we know how pleased and honored God is when we pray. It may seem routine and rote to us, but to God our prayers are like sweet music to his ears. Perhaps it is a bit like parents of a teenager getting unsolicited conversation from their son/daughter. Maybe, not even asking for something!!

When you pray today, think of it as an offering to God.

men of God

Acts 10:2
He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

Think how strange it would be to consider Islam or Judaism as being mainly a female faith. “Muslim or Jewish men don’t really get involved in their faith lives.” This just wouldn’t make sense.

Yet, with Christianity there appears, at times, to be a feminization of the faith. At least, this is a lament that goes out in the American Church. Where are all the men?

Cornelius has it right. Men provide a model for all those around them when they honor God. Maybe today, more then ever, men make influential models because it appears so optional in a guy’s life.

Pray for an important male in our life today.

two for the road

Acts 8:15
As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit that Jesus promises us to empower our mission and ministry. All Christians, new and old, need this power to be energizing their kingdom work. When we pray for each other, we are also praying for Jesus to connect with the other through the Spirit. Prayer is not a passive act; it invites the expansion of our influence together.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon two of your Christian friends today and let them know.


Acts 9:11
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.”

Saul is converted by Jesus directly and will become the great leader Paul. Notice what Paul is spending his time on after his transformation. Prayer.

Is it only when one comes to faith that prayer seems so right and necessary? What do you think? How is God using you to transform the world today? Why not pray about it?

Pray for God to direct you to someone who is seeking God.

touch

Acts 6:6

These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

Laying on of hands is a wonderful tradition in the life of the Christian community. It emphasizes the connection we have with each other and the “touch” of God as it signifies we are receiving God’s direct attention and power when we are being prayer over. Like a king declaring a subject a knight with his sword, we represent King Jesus when we declare, “This is from God.”

Pray for someone today and lay hands on their shoulder or head.

pastors

Acts 6:4
Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.

The leaders of the first church communities spent most of their time praying and teaching the Bible through preaching and teaching. Is this the case for church leaders today?

Having adequate time to be in prayer and Bible reading and prioritizing that time are critical to being fueled by the Holy Spirit. Too many pastors find themselves running on empty and then what?

Pray for pastors and encourage them to pray.

ten commandments in 20 minutes

the ten commandments are not a list of rules, but a description of a way of life

together

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Prayer is not only a conversation between you and God. Prayer also connects believers together with God. When we pray together, it breaks down barriers, encourages, lifts us around common concerns, and makes us more community, less individual prayer cogs.

Pray with others today.