Father, as I study through your word and reflect more on you, I am always more and more amazed, more and more encouraged, more and more satisfied in you. You are truly great and loving.
When you brought your people out of Egypt, you met their every need. Even when they forgot you and worshiped idols, you continued to care for them. You gave them manna--just enough that they were satisfied. You provided them with their daily bread.
Father, I pray that you will provide me with my daily bread. But, you have already done so much more. I have too much food. Help me to live less for food that perishes and more for food that leads to eternal life.
Give me the grace to give myself to you first and then to others. Give me the grace to have so much faith in you that I not only have the desire to use my resources for your glory but that I also have the follow-through to complete my desire.
May I always remember the inconceivable blessing received because Jesus temporarily set aside the riches of heaven and took on the form of a simple man from a simple town. May I always remember that I am rich beyond measure, not because I have a large house, multiple cars, and a 401k, but because you made me rich through an inheritance of glory. And may I always realize that I am also rich in earthly measures, but it is more blessed to give than to receive. May I see the riches you have entrusted to me, not as a security blanket that makes me have less need of you, but as a sacred trust that makes me focus on you more.
May my giving be eager and cheerful; may my giving be pleasing to you and acceptable.
Father, I also ask that you bless my teaching of your word. Help me truthfully handle your word and help me show your glory. Send your Spirit to work through me and to work in the hearts of all the Life Group members, including myself, so that your word would take hold of our lives.
I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Showing posts with label stewardship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stewardship. Show all posts
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
He is great
Father, I praise your great and glorious name. I will praise your name forever because you have called me and set me apart for your purposes. You have chosen me to be among your children, blessed by you and given a perfect inheritance. May I never forget the great and gracious gift you have given me when I was your enemy living in rebellion against you. While I rejected you, you sent your son Jesus to die for my sins, and you raised him from the dead so that I could have eternal life with you. Oh how wonderful your good news really is for all those who would love you and turn from darkness into the light.
I pray that more people would see your glory while you can still be found before they face you at the final judgement. But, how are they to hear if there are not people to take the good news to them? So, father, I pray that you would send out more missionaries into the field to gather your harvest. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; so, send out more workers into the field. And may I be a worker for you , whether where I live now or wherever you choose to send me. May I be a worker at all times in whatever place I am in at any moment. Give me a bold spirit to proclaim your glory to all those around me. Give me a spirit that testifies in my actions and my words. Let me live a life that serves as a witness for your truth and grace so that like a lamp set on a table, I could shine a light into the darkness that surrounds me.
Father, help me to make the most of every day. The days are evil and if I am not careful they slip away wasted forever. I am a steward of everything you entrust with me because you are the rightful owner of everything. Therefore, I must use everything for the maximum of your glory. Help me to use my time in ways that demonstrate you are my first commitment; let me use my time in ways that would meet with your approval; let me use my time productively and efficiently because in your economy there is no waste.
As I think of how often I waste time, I am reminded that there are so many people who have loved ones and they wish so much to have more time with those they've lost. I am not guaranteed tomorrow, so let me make the most of today.
Father, I pray that you would be with the members of my Life Group. Be with the Steve and Angela, Mike and Latrelle, Mike and Meredith, Frank and Leslie, Charlie, Rhonda, Greg and Alice, Clay and Julie, and Marsha. Bless each of them in their spiritual journeys with you. Help them come closer to you and know you better. And I ask that you work in the hearts of all those who have not shown commitment to being part of your body of believers. Work in the hearts of those who are technically members of our Life Group, even our church, but continually forsake the fellowship of believers. If they are part of your family, help them see your purpose in the church. If they do not truly know you, take their hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh so that they could turn from darkness and enter your light. And may the rest of the members of this Life Group serve as a model of the unity of believers.
Father, as I prepare to start a new semester of teaching, I ask that you would bless me that I would teach well and help my students grow in their academic and social lives; bless me so that I may help them fulfill the potential you have given each of them. And help me be a witness for your truth and glory.
I pray that you would bless my church and help us fulfill your purpose in our community. And I ask you to bless the ministries of missionaries around the world. Give my church a passion for world missions, too. In Christ, there is neither Greek nor Jew, but your good news is for the entire world. Give us a passion for seeing your good news taken to the ends of the earth.
Father, you have given me kindness when I deserved damnation. You are truly a God of goodness and grace. I praise you and thank you. Let my thankfulness for you overflow into love for others. May I show my love to be genuine. Give me the strength to resist temptations that may appear; keep me from temptation.
Above all, may your name be glorified and your will be done. I ask these things in the name of my savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
I pray that more people would see your glory while you can still be found before they face you at the final judgement. But, how are they to hear if there are not people to take the good news to them? So, father, I pray that you would send out more missionaries into the field to gather your harvest. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; so, send out more workers into the field. And may I be a worker for you , whether where I live now or wherever you choose to send me. May I be a worker at all times in whatever place I am in at any moment. Give me a bold spirit to proclaim your glory to all those around me. Give me a spirit that testifies in my actions and my words. Let me live a life that serves as a witness for your truth and grace so that like a lamp set on a table, I could shine a light into the darkness that surrounds me.
Father, help me to make the most of every day. The days are evil and if I am not careful they slip away wasted forever. I am a steward of everything you entrust with me because you are the rightful owner of everything. Therefore, I must use everything for the maximum of your glory. Help me to use my time in ways that demonstrate you are my first commitment; let me use my time in ways that would meet with your approval; let me use my time productively and efficiently because in your economy there is no waste.
As I think of how often I waste time, I am reminded that there are so many people who have loved ones and they wish so much to have more time with those they've lost. I am not guaranteed tomorrow, so let me make the most of today.
Father, I pray that you would be with the members of my Life Group. Be with the Steve and Angela, Mike and Latrelle, Mike and Meredith, Frank and Leslie, Charlie, Rhonda, Greg and Alice, Clay and Julie, and Marsha. Bless each of them in their spiritual journeys with you. Help them come closer to you and know you better. And I ask that you work in the hearts of all those who have not shown commitment to being part of your body of believers. Work in the hearts of those who are technically members of our Life Group, even our church, but continually forsake the fellowship of believers. If they are part of your family, help them see your purpose in the church. If they do not truly know you, take their hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh so that they could turn from darkness and enter your light. And may the rest of the members of this Life Group serve as a model of the unity of believers.
Father, as I prepare to start a new semester of teaching, I ask that you would bless me that I would teach well and help my students grow in their academic and social lives; bless me so that I may help them fulfill the potential you have given each of them. And help me be a witness for your truth and glory.
I pray that you would bless my church and help us fulfill your purpose in our community. And I ask you to bless the ministries of missionaries around the world. Give my church a passion for world missions, too. In Christ, there is neither Greek nor Jew, but your good news is for the entire world. Give us a passion for seeing your good news taken to the ends of the earth.
Father, you have given me kindness when I deserved damnation. You are truly a God of goodness and grace. I praise you and thank you. Let my thankfulness for you overflow into love for others. May I show my love to be genuine. Give me the strength to resist temptations that may appear; keep me from temptation.
Above all, may your name be glorified and your will be done. I ask these things in the name of my savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Praying through the Bible
An honest Christian will admit that sometimes it's difficult to focus while reading the Bible. We get tired, distracted, even bored. And the same can be true of praying. Part of the reason is that we are unsure why we are reading the Bible, and we are unsure what to pray about.
As a science teacher, I teach my students to use the SQ4R method of reading textbooks. It's an effective method of reading because it causes the students to develop a purpose in reading and to actively engage the material. But, a hundred years before educational researchers developed the ideas behind SQ4R, a Christian minister gave simple advice that accomplishes the same goal.
In George Muller's autobiography, he confessed how he had struggled for years to read the Bible. But, then he discovered a way to keep focus and bring passion to his reading. As he read through the Bible, he would turn the verses in prayers. Amazingly simple. Amazingly good. By the way, I highly recommend Muller's autobiography. It's an easy book to read, but packed with wisdom and evidence of God's greatness and love.
So, here I am going to put into practice Muller's advice using 2 Cor 8:1-15, which I plan to teach this coming Sunday.
----
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 during a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
Father, I pray that regardless of my material condition, my joy from you would overflow into generosity toward your people.
3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
May I have such passion for serving your people that I would eagerly seek opportunities to meet the needs of others. May I consider it a privilege to be used by you for your purposes. May I always see the truth that you do not need my work, but rather you let me participate with you as I learn from you.
5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will.
Father, I give myself first to you and your glory. Out of that, may I give myself to your causes around me. If I do anything that is not based on faith in you, it is sin. So, father, I pray that you would give me the faith to live every day and perform every action in faith that you reward those who seek you.
6 So we urged Titus that, just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace.
Father, give me more faith; fill me with faith to move mountains. Give me the words to encourage others, teach others, lead others to know you better and to see your glory. May I have the commitment to you to keep my promises and live out the faith you give me, for faith without works is dead. And father, fill me with your love that I might show it to the world. Help me translate the grace you have shown me into grace toward everyone around me.
8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
Father, as your child, I am not bound by the law. But, you give me opportunities to demonstrate my faith and love. My actions would not be grace if they were not based on your grace. I do not act out of obedience to law, but obedience to faith and love. I do not act out of external compulsion for from your spirit compelling me form within. Father, may I have true love for you; may I first love you with all my heart, all my mind, all me strength and all my soul; and may I then love my neighbor as myself.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
I have been so amazingly blessed. While I was a sinner, Christ died for me. He did not consider equality with you something to be grasped, but instead, took on the form of a mere, ordinary man. Although he was king, he became a servant. He became poor so that through him I could have an inheritance beyond measure--eternity with him in heaven. Help me always remember this rich blessing so that I would know my treasure is in heaven. Help me live my life as Jesus did, living for your glory by living in faith of your power and goodness.
10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. 11 But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Thank you for being a God who asks of each individual according to what you have given that individual. May I always remember I will stand before you one day to account for my own life. May I live with the type of eagerness and action shown by the Macedonians.
13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality — 14 at the present time your surplus is [available] for their need, so that their abundance may also become [available] for your need, that there may be equality.
15 As it has been written:
The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little.
Father, once again I see eternal truths in how you dealt with the Hebrews coming out of Egypt. You fed them and cared for them as the roamed the desert. You gave them their daily bread so that each person had just what they needed. Help me remember that I should live in faith that you will provide my daily bread, and you will provide just what I need to fulfill your purposes in my life. May I be a faithful steward of what you entrust with me so that I may be worthy of being trusted with more. Help me to use what you give me, everything, to glorify you. May I not be like the man who had so much he felt he needed nothing more than larger barns to hold his wealth. May I be more like Paul who funded so much of his own ministry so that he would not be a burden on anyone and his personal needs would never be a stumbling block for the evangelism of the world.
May I live in a way that pleases you. Amen.
As a science teacher, I teach my students to use the SQ4R method of reading textbooks. It's an effective method of reading because it causes the students to develop a purpose in reading and to actively engage the material. But, a hundred years before educational researchers developed the ideas behind SQ4R, a Christian minister gave simple advice that accomplishes the same goal.
In George Muller's autobiography, he confessed how he had struggled for years to read the Bible. But, then he discovered a way to keep focus and bring passion to his reading. As he read through the Bible, he would turn the verses in prayers. Amazingly simple. Amazingly good. By the way, I highly recommend Muller's autobiography. It's an easy book to read, but packed with wisdom and evidence of God's greatness and love.
So, here I am going to put into practice Muller's advice using 2 Cor 8:1-15, which I plan to teach this coming Sunday.
----
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 during a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
Father, I pray that regardless of my material condition, my joy from you would overflow into generosity toward your people.
3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
May I have such passion for serving your people that I would eagerly seek opportunities to meet the needs of others. May I consider it a privilege to be used by you for your purposes. May I always see the truth that you do not need my work, but rather you let me participate with you as I learn from you.
5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will.
Father, I give myself first to you and your glory. Out of that, may I give myself to your causes around me. If I do anything that is not based on faith in you, it is sin. So, father, I pray that you would give me the faith to live every day and perform every action in faith that you reward those who seek you.
6 So we urged Titus that, just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace.
Father, give me more faith; fill me with faith to move mountains. Give me the words to encourage others, teach others, lead others to know you better and to see your glory. May I have the commitment to you to keep my promises and live out the faith you give me, for faith without works is dead. And father, fill me with your love that I might show it to the world. Help me translate the grace you have shown me into grace toward everyone around me.
8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
Father, as your child, I am not bound by the law. But, you give me opportunities to demonstrate my faith and love. My actions would not be grace if they were not based on your grace. I do not act out of obedience to law, but obedience to faith and love. I do not act out of external compulsion for from your spirit compelling me form within. Father, may I have true love for you; may I first love you with all my heart, all my mind, all me strength and all my soul; and may I then love my neighbor as myself.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
I have been so amazingly blessed. While I was a sinner, Christ died for me. He did not consider equality with you something to be grasped, but instead, took on the form of a mere, ordinary man. Although he was king, he became a servant. He became poor so that through him I could have an inheritance beyond measure--eternity with him in heaven. Help me always remember this rich blessing so that I would know my treasure is in heaven. Help me live my life as Jesus did, living for your glory by living in faith of your power and goodness.
10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. 11 But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Thank you for being a God who asks of each individual according to what you have given that individual. May I always remember I will stand before you one day to account for my own life. May I live with the type of eagerness and action shown by the Macedonians.
13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality — 14 at the present time your surplus is [available] for their need, so that their abundance may also become [available] for your need, that there may be equality.
15 As it has been written:
The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little.
Father, once again I see eternal truths in how you dealt with the Hebrews coming out of Egypt. You fed them and cared for them as the roamed the desert. You gave them their daily bread so that each person had just what they needed. Help me remember that I should live in faith that you will provide my daily bread, and you will provide just what I need to fulfill your purposes in my life. May I be a faithful steward of what you entrust with me so that I may be worthy of being trusted with more. Help me to use what you give me, everything, to glorify you. May I not be like the man who had so much he felt he needed nothing more than larger barns to hold his wealth. May I be more like Paul who funded so much of his own ministry so that he would not be a burden on anyone and his personal needs would never be a stumbling block for the evangelism of the world.
May I live in a way that pleases you. Amen.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
full of compassion and grace
Father, Creator of heaven and earth. Your majesty surrounds and fills your creation. Your glory engulfs your creation. You created the universe and set in place the laws the govern it (Jer 33:25). The earth is yours and everything in it (Ps 24:1). May all creation sing to your praise.
But father, through our sin, we have brought a plague upon the earth. The entire creation longs to be rescued (Ro 8:22). You created the earth and said it was good. You created man as the culmination of creation, and you said creation was very good. But, we sinned and brought disaster to ourselves and all creation.
Still, you did not leave us in that trap. We must all die, but you have worked so that we will not remain cast out from you (2 Sam 14:14). You sent Jesus to die for us. You raised him from the dead and gave us a new birth. You adopted us as children and gave us an eternal inheritance. May your church rejoice and delight in the amazing grace you have shown us. May we love you fully and live with unconstrained thanks for your greatness, your grace and mercy.
And father, may we turn our thanks into action for your creation. We live in a world where millions of people die every year because they lack clean water. We live in a world where malnutrition takes the lives of millions more. And still more lives are taken by simple diseases that could be easily prevented or cured if people had access to the care they needed.
I confess the sins I and so many in your church have committed by turning a blind eye to the needs of others. Awaken us to the cause of suffering people. Give us a heart that breaks over the suffering of others. Give us a heart that rejects the gluttonous and selfish focus in and around us. Give us a passion for helping those in such desperate need. Let us not be conformed to the pattern of the world any longer, but transform our minds to know your will (Ro 12:2).
Father, I ask that you bless and magnify the ministries of Christian organizations that serve your causes in the developing world. Groups such as Samaritan's Purse, Blood:Water Mission, World Vision, Compassion International, World Hunger Fund and others work to take your love across the globe. Help these groups find ways to use their resources efficiently and effectively. And put in the hearts of your people to provide the resources these groups need to do their work. And father, send your Spirit ahead of these groups to prepare the hearts of people to see your love in action through these ministries. Bless these groups so that they can save lives, but most importantly, bless people around the world by saving their souls.
And father, here in our own neighborhoods, there is great need. In my community, there are illegal workers struggling to survive. There are lonely people looking for hope. There are hurt people trying to heal. Give your people the strength, faith and wisdom to reach out to those in need in our own neighborhoods. May we preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, open the eyes of the blind and liberty for the oppressed (Lk 4:18).
Father, let us be a light to the spiritually blind around us. I pray you would open the hearts of my parents, Nick, Mark, Rick, Caroline, Jeri, Dawn, Frank, and Stacy. Show them your grace and draw them to you. Help me and other Christians be a witness for you to those who are still outcast from you.
I lift up to you again the desires of the friends and family. Give Mike wisdom to make the right decisions. Bring Frank home safe. Give comfort and healing to Nancy, Debra, Melanie and Ella.
Give your church wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we may know your will and bear fruit. May we glorify you along with all creation.
I pray in the name of my glorious savior Jesus. Amen.
But father, through our sin, we have brought a plague upon the earth. The entire creation longs to be rescued (Ro 8:22). You created the earth and said it was good. You created man as the culmination of creation, and you said creation was very good. But, we sinned and brought disaster to ourselves and all creation.
Still, you did not leave us in that trap. We must all die, but you have worked so that we will not remain cast out from you (2 Sam 14:14). You sent Jesus to die for us. You raised him from the dead and gave us a new birth. You adopted us as children and gave us an eternal inheritance. May your church rejoice and delight in the amazing grace you have shown us. May we love you fully and live with unconstrained thanks for your greatness, your grace and mercy.
And father, may we turn our thanks into action for your creation. We live in a world where millions of people die every year because they lack clean water. We live in a world where malnutrition takes the lives of millions more. And still more lives are taken by simple diseases that could be easily prevented or cured if people had access to the care they needed.
I confess the sins I and so many in your church have committed by turning a blind eye to the needs of others. Awaken us to the cause of suffering people. Give us a heart that breaks over the suffering of others. Give us a heart that rejects the gluttonous and selfish focus in and around us. Give us a passion for helping those in such desperate need. Let us not be conformed to the pattern of the world any longer, but transform our minds to know your will (Ro 12:2).
Father, I ask that you bless and magnify the ministries of Christian organizations that serve your causes in the developing world. Groups such as Samaritan's Purse, Blood:Water Mission, World Vision, Compassion International, World Hunger Fund and others work to take your love across the globe. Help these groups find ways to use their resources efficiently and effectively. And put in the hearts of your people to provide the resources these groups need to do their work. And father, send your Spirit ahead of these groups to prepare the hearts of people to see your love in action through these ministries. Bless these groups so that they can save lives, but most importantly, bless people around the world by saving their souls.
And father, here in our own neighborhoods, there is great need. In my community, there are illegal workers struggling to survive. There are lonely people looking for hope. There are hurt people trying to heal. Give your people the strength, faith and wisdom to reach out to those in need in our own neighborhoods. May we preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, open the eyes of the blind and liberty for the oppressed (Lk 4:18).
Father, let us be a light to the spiritually blind around us. I pray you would open the hearts of my parents, Nick, Mark, Rick, Caroline, Jeri, Dawn, Frank, and Stacy. Show them your grace and draw them to you. Help me and other Christians be a witness for you to those who are still outcast from you.
I lift up to you again the desires of the friends and family. Give Mike wisdom to make the right decisions. Bring Frank home safe. Give comfort and healing to Nancy, Debra, Melanie and Ella.
Give your church wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we may know your will and bear fruit. May we glorify you along with all creation.
I pray in the name of my glorious savior Jesus. Amen.
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