The Prayer Path...and the prayer of Power...

Can you see the circle in the grass above? It's not just any circle, worn by some wild creature around a treadmill...it's a prayer path, worn through by a man passionate as Jacob, wrestling and pleading for His God to come and dwell among us, pleading for the blessing. Yes indeed....this very path worn through on the front lawn as a testimony to my heart of what it means to tread the earth all hours of day and night, interceding for the salvation of those we love...

Prayer is one of those spiritual gifts that I have always loved...yet I've come to realize how little I know of this gift. I'm learning to love it more...more than I ever have before...and yet, I'm realizing, I've only barely begun to taste of this great JOY...

Power of Prayer & the Prayer of Power

Recently, I finished another little manuscript on prayer. Much of it was your typical standard devotional...good, but not extra-ordinary. However, amongst all the usual thoughts were a few things that stuck out to me. So I share the following, some in my own words, and some directly quoted from the book:

Why do I have so little victory over sin. Why do I win so few souls to Christ? Why do I grow so slowly into the likeness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? And God answers in the words of our text, "Neglect of Prayer. You have not because you ask not."

We do not live in a praying age. I think it would be perfectly safe to say, that the church of Christ was never in all its so history so fully and skillfully organized as it is today. Our machinery is wonderful, and it is just perfect; but alas it is machinery without power; and when things do not go right, instead of going to the real source of our failure, our neglect to depend upon God and to look to God for power, we look around to see if there is not some new organization that we can set up, some new wheel that we can add to our machinery. We have altogether too many wheels already. What we need is not new organization, not some new wheel, but the "Spirit of the living creature in the wheels" which we already possess. Prayer has as much power today, when men and women are themselves on praying ground and meeting the conditions of prevailing prayer, as it ever had. And yet...it seems the very last thing we turn to!

Your growth and mine into the likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be in EXACT proportion to the time and heart that we put into prayer. "Take time to be Holy" - I wish we sang this hymn more in these days. It takes time to be holy; one cannot be holy in a hurry! And for sure, one cannot become holy without time with God in prayer.

John Welch put in on record before he died, that he counted that day ill-spent that he did not spend seven or eight hours in secret prayer. [What, seven or eight hours??? And most of us can barely do ONE?]

As he quoted: "I pray for as long as the Holy Spirit leads me to pray, not for a certain amount of time!" [What a model for all of us. What is probably a big problem with us though, is that we have soooo many breaches in our lives, that the Holy Spirit isn't allowed full access. So, it isn't He that is directing our prayers, but our own heart of flesh...so of course, there's only so much you can pray about while living in the flesh.]

Four aspects necessary in true prayer:

1. Unto God

The prayer that gets what it asks for is unto God. Stop a moment and think. It is not often the case when men stand up to pray in public, or kneel down to pray in private, that are thinking far more about what they are asking for than they are of the great God who made Heaven and earth, and who has all power. We may be making requests, but our minds are wandering, and we have no real conscious approach to God in our hearts. We have to really come into the presence of God. We should not utter one syllable of prayer, either in public or private, until we are definitely conscious that we have come into the presence of God and are actually praying unto Him.

Question: How to get into the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:19, "Having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest...by the blood of Jesus." This is the first part of the answer. We come into the presence of God by the blood of Jesus....and we can come in by no other way. Secondly, in Ephesians 2:18 it says, "For through him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father." So we come not just through Christ, but we come in One Spirit. But not just ANY spirit, His Holy Spirit. It is the work of the Holy spirit, when you and I pray, to take us by the hand as it were and lead us into the very presence of God and introduce us to Him, and to make God real to us as we pray. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to literally INTRODUCE us to God....

Next...

2. With Intense Earnestness

"Without ceasing" - "fervent" - "Persevering" - all descriptions of the tenacity and persistence that we must pursue God in prayer if we desire answers. Acts 12:5 tells about how the believers prayed without ceasing for Paul. The word "without ceasing" comes from the Greek word "ektenos" - which literally means "stretched-out-edly." Not so much as a extended period of time, but praying with a soul stretched out in the intensity of its earnestness toward God. It's not something we muster up to appease God, it's not a work of the flesh. It's the deepest soul cry of a genuine heart seeking after God. And He promises us that those that seek Him WILL find Him!

3. Of the Church

A prayer that God particularly delights to answer is that of UNITED prayer. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in Heaven." God delights in the unity of His people, and He does everything in His power to promote that unity. But it must be real unity. Typically someone comes and asks you to pray with them for a topic, and you do. You are agreed in praying, but you are praying because they asked you to. The real unity comes when BOTH of you feel the burden together "as touching" what you ask...in other words, both of you are in like heart because the Holy Spirit has put the same burden and longing upon both of you for this request. Then it is you are United and together!

Now, the last part of the four aspects of prayer.

4. For Him

Definite and for Him. Oh how general and vague many of our prayers are. They are pretty and charmingly phrased, but they ask no definite specific thing, and they get no definite specific answer which would be for His glory. When you pray to God, you should have a definite clear-cut idea of just exactly what it is you want of God. And then when He answers, the glory will be to Him.

In all these phases, there is only one way to reach them according to God's standard...by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only one that enables us to pray "unto God," it is only the Holy Spirit who leads us into the presence of God and makes God real to us. It is only the Holy Spirit who gives intense earnestness in prayer that prevails with God. Still again, it is only the Holy Spirit that can bring about true unity, and it is only the Holy Spirit that shows us the definite things we should pray for that would be for His glory! In short - we must have the Holy Spirit!

Hindrances to prayer!

Ever feel like your prayers are just hitting a ceiling. Going no where? If that is the case, there are several factors that could be prohibiting your prayer.

1. Wrong motive in prayer. "Ye ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." So, the first thing that hinders our prayers is praying from a selfish motive. As it says in Cor 10:31, all that we do must be to the glory of God, not our self. Self must get out of the way.

2. The second big thing that hinders our prayers is sin in the heart and life. "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isa 59:1,2 The problem is not with God. The problem is with us!

3. This goes along with the second, but is on a larger scale, and that is, we have "idols" in our heart. Ezekiel talks about this. "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat down before me. and the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?" 14:1-3. The elders had come to Ezekiel for him to pray over them...but it was very clear that because of their idols, they could not entreat the Lord, even through Ezekiel. Idols are more then petty sins, idols are objects that take the affections and throne of our hearts. They are ultimately what we put all our thought, focus and passion towards. They could be our husbands or wives, our children, our job, a position or status...anything. Worst of all, they could be OUR-self! The idols and altars must be torn down.

4. Another roadblock to prayer is an Unforgiving Spirit. "And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your father also which is in Heaven may forgive your trespasses." All of God's answering of our prayers is upon the basis of God's dealing with us as forgiven sinners, and God cannot deal with us as forgiven sinners while we are not in return forgiving those that have wronged us. I believe "bitterness of heart" is one of the single most destructive things to an open and fruitful prayer life.

5. Another roadblock to prayer is "Stinginess of our giving." Prov 21:13 says, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." Those that are stingy and niggardly in their giving cannot be mighty men of prayer. The Bible tells us, "Withhold not good to them in whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Prov 3:27. Another powerful verse says, "To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17 In other words, even if someone doesn't ask us...but we know they are in need or struggling...whether financially, physically, or spiritually...if we know and we hold back our hand to give what God has freely given us (For all our might, wisdom, gold and riches are His), then we have blocked the channel of open communication with our King. [Ouch! No wonder there is so little answers to prayer in our homes and churches! We hold on too tightly to what God has given us to be freely shared.]

Great men of prayer are all great givers, givers according to their ability. George Mueller of Bristol England was, as far as we know, one of the greatest men of prayer of the last generation. He obtained the English equivalent of more than $7,200,000.00 by prayer alone. For about sixty years he carried on a most marvelous work in supporting and training the orphans of England, oftentimes housing two thousand or more orphans at one time, feeding them three meals a day. Yet God supplied every penny which came for the support of the orphans, and for the support of the other work which he felt responsible. No appeal was ever made to anyone, no collections or offerings were ever taken, and yet the money never failed. Sometimes it seemed up to almost the last minute that it would fail, but it always came. He would ask God for a hundred pounds of sterling, and it would come, and he would pass it on. He would later ask for sixty thousand pounds sterling, and it would come and he would pass it on. In all, as already stated, he asked for over $7,200,000.00 and it came and he passed it on. That was the reason why it kept coming, because he kept passing it on. None of it stuck to his fingers. When he died he barely had enough money to pay for his funeral expenses. But isn't this the way it should be...?? Too often, we ask, we get, and then we keep...and so God ceases to give.

Many a professedly Christian woman spends every year of her life focusing more on investing in a few single items of vanity or fashion then she does in giving away to missions or those in need. And men the same. They invest in the latest technology, the top-of-the-line name brands, while just outside their doors, people are struggling to pay their bills, and starving for more of Christ. And we wonder why God doesn't answer our prayers??

6. Other roadblocks in prayer have to do with how we treat our family members. The scripture specifically mentions those in the marriage covenant. "Likewise, husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." Of course, as the author shared, the same goes to the wives. "How many a professedly Christian woman today is sweet as summer morn, as winsome and alluring as a June breeze when she is in church fellowship, or at a public gathering, or with friends, or even out doing errands and business...but how different she is at home - cross, peevish, nagging, moody. She does little to serve or encourage her husband or family, but instead focuses on herself and her own whims and desires. Yet, when facing the world, she is all sweetness. This too will create a wall in prayer."

The author continues: "Again, how many woman will fix themselves up and make themselves beautiful when entertaining guest or going out with friends, but when home alone with her husband or family, she pays no thought, for after all, it is only her husband at home with her, it is only her children...what is the big deal? The husband too has forgotten the little courtesies and kindness in which he won his wife's heart...and he treats strangers with more respect and gentleness then he treats his wife. How are we as Christian families, christian husbands and wives to expect God to answer our prayers when we don't take our christianity into the daily details and interactions of our home life. If our prayers are to be answered, the home life must be sweet, our interactions a taste of heaven, our marriage alive and thriving as "lovers and best friends." How long should the honeymoon last? Most people says it fades after a few months or years. But if we live according to scripture, and have communion with God, it should never end, but only get deeper and more sacred as time goes on. Every year the married life and family life should be more loving and tender and thoughtful than the year before...it must be this way if we are to have real power in our prayers."

So - if there are hindrances, and every other way is clear, then look into your home life. How are you living as a Christian at home?!

Now let's talk about revival...This is what the book shared as the results of true revival?

1. The first results are seen in the ministers of the gospel.

In times of true revival the minister has a new love for souls. We in general have no such love as we ought to have, for such love only comes from above.

When in true revival, the minister gets a new love for God's Word and a new faith in God's Word. Revivals make minister who are loose in their doctrines orthodox.

Revivals bring to ministers new liberty, new joy and new power in preaching.

2. Now let's look at the results in revival to general Christians.

In times of revival, Christians come out from the world and live separated lives.

In times of revival, Christians get a new spirit of prayer.

In times of revival Christians go to work for the lost with a new zeal.

In times of revival, Christians have new joy in the Lord Jesus.

In times of revival, Christians get a new love for the Word of God.

3. Now let's look at results of revival on the lost world.

Revival brings a genuine deep conviction of sin.

Real revival brings about conversions and regeneration.

Beyond a doubt, one of the great secrets of the unsatisfactoriness and superficiality and unreality and temporary character of many of our modern, so called revivals, is that so much dependence is put upon man's machinery, and so little upon God's power, sought and obtained by the earnest, persistent, believing prayer that will not take no for an answer. We live in a day characterized by the multiplication of man's machinery and the diminution of God's power. The great cry of our day is work, work, work, organize, organize, organize, give us some new society, tell us some new methods, devise some new machinery. But the great need of our day is prayer, more prayer, and more persistent earnest prayer.

Brothers and sisters, let us STOP talking about prayer and LET US PRAY!!!!

In the middle of the Stream...

Seems in some ways I am growing in leaps and bounds spiritually, and in other ways I feel like I am still trying to climb up an unscalable wall, that is too high for me to get over!! (And if you understand God's calling on your life, you realize, it IS TOO HIGH for us to crawl over! He has to pick us up and carry us over!!!)

Anyway, last Thursday I was really struggling and I felt like I needed some time AWAY to process. So my friend and I headed to Rocky Mtn Natl Park. I've been up there tons of times, so I know my way around. But this was Tessa's first time, so it was fun to show her a few sights. After we drove around a little and I showed her some scenic points, we found a beautiful rushing stream on the drive up towards "Bear Lake" - for those of you that know the park! It was gorgeous....

I started reading "Absolute Surrender" by Andrew Murray - and it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear....it was sooo powerful!!! Check out chapter 5-7 on the Surrender section, if you have the book. It was talking about the struggle of Romans 6-8....dead to flesh, alive to Spirit and what that means. I've read these passages hundreds of times before, but it spoke to me again! Just what I needed today....as I've been battling against my flesh and seeking to submit to the Spirit. It was just what I needed!!! PTL!!

I sat for a loooong time out in the middle of the stream on a rock that was shaped perfectly for me to sit in. There was a road nearby with tourist driving by, and while I had been sitting beside the stream, I could hear all the traffic noise. But now that I was in the middle of the stream of rushing water, I couldn't hear anything but the rushing water. It took all the surrounding noise and distractions away! As I sat there thinking and reflecting on the promises of God, I realized that God was speaking to me. "Melody.....you are frustrated with your fleshly inclinations, and you are frustrated that you keep getting caught up in the distractions of your relationships, your life, and ministry. But I want you to know, that if you immerse yourself and surround yourself with ME.....you wont hear the distractions anymore. You may see them.....you may still work among them, but they wont control you. Their voice will be mute. You will only hear me, just as you only hear the stream now that you are out in the middle!"

Wow!! So profound......and so true, huh?!

So it was just the encouragement I needed, to step back from it all and immerse myself even more in God and His Word and give a deaf ear to distractions. I only want to be controlled and propelled by Him, not my own desires....however sanctified they may be!

So that's why it's been a few days since I've posted anything....and if things stay a bit quiet for a time, don't worry. I'm still here! God's just taking me into the middle of the stream to grow me, and I probably can't hear as much from the outside world while I am there. But it's a wonderful place to be. If you've never been there...you need to go find a big rushing stream, and get in the middle. You'll find that you'll never be the same again! :-)

The Preacher and the Birdcage

"The Preacher and the Birdcage"


There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak..."I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply.

"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time" "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teachthem how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"

"How much?" He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

Taking a stand for strong health...

Have you ever noticed that when you are working for God, that seems like the times you are hit hardest with colds, flus, bugs etc?? For example, you go on a mission trip, and everyone gets sick! Does God bring that sickness to slow down the work?? Or could this possibly be an attack of the enemy?? How about at home? You want to get up and have devotions, and you even went to bed at a decent time....but for some reason, when you are ready to wake up and have devotions the biggest bout of tiredness clings to you!! You're in a fog! You can't think....

For years, I took every sickness, every bout of "tiredness" that came with a "grin and bear it" mentality! God must have a reason in this, so I just need to get through! However, as Eric and Leslie shared recently in regard to "Fortification" (if you made it through the longer post below - it is powerful!) I have begun to realize that maybe this attacks of health issues (for people that are normally healthy and have good sleeping habits) really aren't from God after all, but are deliberate attacks to discourage and destroy.

I have some friends that just finished some intense ministry. They are drained and depleted rather than feeling revived and refreshed. Is this right?? God tells us in his word, "Even the youth shall faint and be weary (even those strong and in good health), but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint!" As I read stuff like this, it doesn't seem to me that it is in God's plan that we serve him, and we faint....we get sick, we get knocked out with exhaustion or this flu bug or that cough. I just never realized this before.....maybe you didn't either!

Again, like I said, Eric and Leslie already talked some about this topic in the message on "Fortification" which I shared a couple posts below. However, in another message I just heard, they shared more specific answers to prayer and how God has been working in their lives and giving them victory, and I'd like to share more details in regard to their battle over poor health....especially relating to work in ministry.

Here's my notes I typed from this talk:

Let's jump in where Eric is talking...

Ok – fast forward a number of years…we are married now…we had been in ministry for 4 years and the battle, and chaos seems to be getting more and more intense. All these crazy things began to take a toll on our faith, and we were constantly fighting health issues. We began to pray more survival type prayers. Not bold prayers, not wrestling prayers, not prayers of intercession for others….more survival prayers, just for our own needs and just to get through the day intact. But as we did this, God began to convict us that there were breaches in our lives and things that the enemy was using to harass us with….like attacking our health, finances, staff …and on! It was getting really bad! We felt like we were being soo attacked that we couldn’t fulfill God’s purpose in our life. But we had been accepting these attacks with a cheerful attitude, "OK - I will bear this cheerfully for you!" But in the process we were getting more and more confused....

So we began to pray and seek to close breaches in our spiritual lives and then began to claim victory and God began to shore up these areas in our life, one by one by one. So we began to tackle the area of health.

Leslie: I was always getting infections….everytime trying to speak or involved in ministry activity, I would be sooo drained and exhausted, would get colds infections, bronchitis or something like this. It was crazy! It all revolved around our outpouring and service to God! Finally we began to realize that this was enemy attack, and we didn’t need to just grin and bear it and say, “Ok God, I accept this for your glory!” No we needed to awaken and fight this. So we started praying! We had a whole entire day of prayer just on the topic of health…. Corrie Ten Boom says, “Don’t pray when you feel like it. Make an appt with God and keep it. Pray when you LEAST feel like it!” We didn’t have much emotion or feeling, and were drained and exhausted from ministry, but we were seeking to obey….we kept praying….didn’t see break through right away….but after a few days, we began to have breakthrough….began to get stronger….however, the battle wasn’t done!

Eric: Leslie and I should have kept detailed prayer journal during this time….but we didn’t! Keep a journal because you never know what God is leveraging in your life for His glory, and you will want to refer to his answered prayers in the future. Anyway, We were praying during this time for any thing that came up regarding health – any congestion, stiffness in neck, HA, or anything….and funny thing is, we kept having things like this come up…one health issue after the other! We’re like, “How long do we need to pray!? This is crazy” But we were determined, we would not let go! I entered into a fast, and I was determined I would not stop until something changed. (Now, don’t do this unless God is telling you to do this!!)

So about 4 days I fasted….and then on the fourth day, the sickness suddenly was gone!!!! It wasn’t a natural getting better or healing….it didn’t work it’s way through and leave. No Leslie was sick, but I kept fasting and praying, and on the 4th day, God broke through. It was suddenly gone!! But this was a strategic process…a strategic prayer. We came to God for our command. And we knew we needed to take a stand and tell the enemy NO MORE!!!

Now for years, I'd just been letting things go by. She'll get over it, it's ok! Just grin and bear it, I would tell her! But then God began to open my eyes to what was happening! So, as the man of the house and protector of our home, I knew I needed to take charge and stand in God's strength and on His word. So in God’s strength, I started to take stands in our home and said…we are not going to take these health attacks any more. We are healthy, we are seeking to serve God, and this is not from God!! This is to destroy us!

Would you believe that for the next 52 days I prayed this, I was hit with exactly 28 different health issues!!! It was unbelievable! I never get sick, I NEVER have issues! It was always Leslie ! Now I was being hit!!!! As attack after attack came against us, I realized the enemy was in defiance of my prayer. I realized that “WE ARE ON TO SOMETHING HERE!!!” We cannot give up this battle! The enemy is going out of his way to try to stop us and discourage us. And I am not going to have my family part of this harassment….from enemy anymore. Our little two year old, Hudson run to emergency room 10 times during this period. He would fall down and split his lip open!! One crazy thing after the other! So I started to stand up on Ps 91 – They will not dash their foot against a stone. “NO! NO MORE!!!”

Finally, after 52 days, the attacks stopped!!! And that’s still the way it is in my home!! Leslie does not struggle with sickness anymore when we do ministry, or at other times either. We haven't been sick since!!! Anytime I see any “bonk” in our home with the kidds… I say NO!!!!! My family as a whole is strong physically….but you take us back when Hudson was in his first years….Leslie was constantly under attack. Hudson was having all kinds of accidents….we didn’t know we were being attacked. We just thought it was normal life! But now, NO!!!!!! We stand. And now we have 4 kids all under 5, and none of them have had accidents or had to go to emergency room and no one gets sick. None of that since then!!! We stand on faith.….if something tries to creep in, a sniffle or a cold, we say NO! And we go on!!! And it comes no further…

There is a family that we know that is always sick….sickness passes around entire home! We tell enemy NO….we are going to be healthy, because God has a calling on our life, and we are not going to be controlled by this….

There’s a principle of Fortification that few Christian’s in our day and age realize…there are two types of pain….Pain from God to grow up and bring glory, to prune you and bring more fruit, and pain from enemy to trip you up, slow you down, destroy you and discourage you….we’ve learned to know which pain we accept and which we stand up against! This is crucial in this battle…..

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Eric has made it very clear and numerous occasions, that he does not believe in the "health, wealth and prosperity" gospel! But He does believe in Eph 6, and that we are in a supernatural battle against darkness to destroy our lives, our potential for growth in God, and our potential to minister to others. So when something gets in the way of one of those three things happening, he shares how He and Leslie have been learning to take stands spiritually. God didn't give His Word and promise strength for nothing! It must be REAL, even for us today!!! Of course, there are trials and pain that God allows for a reason, to prune us, grow us, to bring greater fruit or to build our faith.]

Sneaking around at 3:00am...

3:00 am! It's Sunday morning and my Alarm buzzer on my phone is going off. But it's not a mistake. I sleepily crawl out of bed and stagger to the bathroom to wash my face. Then I sneak next door to make sure my suite mates are awake. Yep, they are wiping the sleep out of their eyes too! We grab our flash lights and quietly tiptoe down the hall, careful to make sure we haven't disturbed anyone! We're not sneaking out of the dorm, we're headed to someone's room. It's not just anyone's room either...it's our dear Annie! Today she is turning 27, and we are celebrating early.

We arrive at her bedroom door, but make not a sound. Quietly we put together our piece of artwork. We want it to be a perfect surprise for when she steps out in the morning! It doesn't take long. Only a few minutes and we are done. As a final gesture of love, we leave a note at the door - "We love you!" Then we are gone!

It's hard to go back to bed and back to sleep. I toss and turn til nearly 4am. Finally I fall back asleep for a couple hours. (After all, it's Sunday, so I can sleep in a LITTLE!)

Later, at breakfast we enjoy fellowship with our friends. "Did you hear?" someone asks... "Someone toilet-papered Annie's door last night?" "Oh really?" I ask in mock surprise! "I wonder WHO would do that!" One of my friends and I cast each other knowing looks, but no one else knows what's going on. We just smile! "Yeah," our informant continues. "You should have seen the look on Annie's face when she opened the door this morning! It was priceless. But she thought it was cute and handed out her camera for us to take a picture." We smile. "That's neat! We wish we could have been there." We go on with breakfast...

No one will ever know! And they'd be shocked if they did...to learn that one of the oldest and two of the youngest kids around conspired together to show Annie their love in a different and unique way. [Of course, no one knows that originally I thought that we should ALL go piling into her room at 12:01am to wish her a Happy Birthday! That way we'd be the first to wish her a happy Birthday, and it would be one that I'm sure she would never forget!] But...decided she probably needed her sleep. So we did what we did instead! Anyway, hopefully she got the message...that she is LOVED!!

WHAT FUN!!!! I feel like I am back in high school again, playing pranks on my classmates!

Hope she knows we REALLY DO love her!!!

Shhhhh....don't tell ANYONE!!!!

The next morning....

Our beautiful Annie with a cake from her family!! :-)

"BACKward CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS"

Backward Christian soldiers,
Fleeing from the fight,
With the cross of Jesus,
Nearly out of sight.
Christ our rightful master
Stands against the foe
Onward into battle, we
seem afraid to go.

Chorus:
Backward Christian soldiers,
Fleeing from the fight,
With the cross of Jesus,
Nearly out of sight.

Like a mighty tortoise
Moves the church of God.
Brothers we are treading,
Where we've often trod.
We are much divided,
Many bodies we,
Having different doctrines, but
Not much charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the cross of Jesus
Hidden does remain.
Gates of hell should never
'gainst the Church prevail,
We have Christ's own promise, but
we think it might fail.

Sit here then ye people,
Join our sleeping throng.
Blend with ours, your voices
in a feeble song.
Blessings, ease and comfort
Ask from Christ the King,
But with our modern thinking,
We won't do a thing.

by George Verwer

Condemned or Convicted??

You're just talking "Condemnation talk!"

This is a favorite term that the world, and those seeking to run away from the spirit of God, use. But there is a difference! Condemnation is accusation with no hope. What we as Christian's share is actually conviction.... because we hold up the Word of God for what it actually is - THE WORD of GOD... and that conviction shows people how unlike the Law and TRUTH they are! But at the same time, it offers HOPE for what they can be, through Christ! However, people that don't want to be convicted, they run away saying, "You are just being legalistic and condemning! Stop it!" So which is it...if it convicts, then do something about it. Repent, go to Jesus, make U-Turn, and walk another way...in the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE!! If it's just about condemnation...who are we to preach...the sinners that we are?

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that walk not after the flesh, but walk after the Spirit." Rom 8:1

We can't walk in the Spirit in our own strength because we are carnal sold under sin. Only He can enable us to walk in the Spirit in His strength!

Yes, the world may accuse us of a "Holier than thou" attitude. But think about it! We ARE to be "holier than thou!" We are not to be anything like the world. God has called us higher....to His very throne room! We are to be "Holy" or "Set-Apart" for Him, just as we would be for our own earthly husband or wife. We are not to be snobby, but the lines are to be distinct and separate...God is "other-than" this world. We should be too, with no apologies needed!

We in Christianity aren't content to stay in the superficial. Just as there are layers of earth, there are layers of scripture. Most of the world lives in the superficial...we are to learn to be excavators! To go deep in God's Word!!!

The Doctrine of Sin ~ Battle of Flesh versus Spirit

Sin in essence means, "To miss the mark." The way we ought to be is the mark we have missed. When we miss that mark, and are not who we ought to be in God's strength, sins result. Issues result! In that case, in the throne room of our lives, SIN or SELF has taken the throne that rightfully belongs to God. We are living in the control position that ought to be His. We realize this and so we try to get up and move. But we discover we can't! We're stuck!! So we ask God to help us. He takes us, picks us up...only He can help us get off His throne! He should demote us to prison for taking His throne, but He places us at his side as "head Butler." We are to work closely with Him. When He again takes the throne, just as a bird can fly ("law of aerodynamics" trumping the "law of gravity") so the "law of sin and death" is trumped by the "law of of the Spirit." We have died to the flesh, and our life is hidden in Christ with God.

So - Flesh versus Spirit - How can we keep Flesh off the throne!

Depends on who we feed which will rule! We feed the flesh, it will rule. We learn to feed the Spirit and deny the flesh, it will rule! What voice are we listening to...

Flesh says, "Watch out for self, guard your own space and your own rights! Don't let anyone else in. You don't need to be unselfish, you don't need to do that..." We must learn to give NO EAR to the flesh! The more we listen to the Spirit, the stronger it's voice will be in our life and vice versa.

However, we have learned how to spiritualize the flesh away in our lives. We have grown up and learned social etiquette and decorum. But it's still all just about US! We've learned how to cover up the flesh, but it's just a front for most Christians. They succeed in looking good on the outside to the world, but the flesh still rules their hearts and their private lives. The gospel has not yet penetrated their hearts.

God intends for us not just to have a "Holy Place" experience... "Read Bible, Pray everyday, tell a few people about Him" etc. He intends for us to have a "Most Holy Place Experience" in His presence...daily...all the time...that's what He purchased for us at the cross! Not just payment for sin, but transformation and restoration to that intimate one on one connection with Him! When we have tasted that relationship, nothing in this world will ever satisfy us again!!

Oswald Chambers Inspiration...

This morning my roommate shared some profound thoughts for me from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

"By what right do we have to become a royal priesthood? It is by the right of the atonement by the Cross of Christ that this has been accomplished. Are we prepared to purposely disregard ourselves and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual inner searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simple life of a child of God. How long is it going to take God to free us from the unhealthy habit of thinking only about ourselves? We must get to the point of being sick to death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God might tell us about ourselves. We cannot reach and understand the depths of our own meagerness. There is only one place where we are right with God, and that is in Jesus Christ. We must launch out in reckless unrestrained belief that our redemption is complete. Then we don't need to worry about ourselves anymore, but walk in faith, a life poured out for others."

"A pitiful, sickly, and self-centered kind of prayer and a determined effort and selfish desire to be right with God are never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am "trying" to be right with God is actually a sign that I am rebelling against the atonement by the Cross of Christ. We cannot make ourselves right with God. We cannot make our lives perfect. I can only be right with God if I accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to surrender all my rights and all my demands, and cease from every self effort. I must leave myself completely IN HIS HANDS."

[Profound huh?? But so true! And I have been all too guilty of this type of thinking!! Ugh!]

A few more profound thoughts from the pen of Oswald Chambers...

"The unchanging law of judgement - This statement is not some haphazard theory, but it is an eternal law of God. Whatever judgment you give will be the very way you are judged. There is a difference between retaliation and retribution. Jesus said that the basis of life is retribution - "with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you." If you have been shrewd in finding the shortcomings of others, remember that will be exactly how you are measured. The way you pay is the way life will pay you back. This eternal law works from God's throne down to us. (See Psalms 18:25-26)

Romans 2:1 applies it in even a more definite way by saying that the one who criticizes another is guilty of the very same thing. God looks not only at the act itself, but also at the possibility of committing it, which He sees by looking at our hearts. To begin with, we do not believe the statements of the Bible. For instance, do we really believe the statement that says we criticize in others the very things we are guilty of ourselves? The reason we see hypocrisy, deceit, and a lack of genuiness in others is because they are all in our own hearts. The greatest characteristic of a saint is humility, as evidenced by being able to say honestly and humbly, "Yes, all those, as well as other evils, would be exhibited in me if it were not for the grace of God. Therefore, I have no right to judge!" Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Who of us would dare stand before God and say, "My God, judge me the way I have judged others!" God judges us not as sinners, but as we are on the miraculous atonement of the Cross of Christ. Can not we see our brothers and sisters in this light as well??

[What can I say again, but profound! And OUCH!!! Lord forgive me for the times I've judged others, or spent an over-amount of time reflecting on my own short-comings...as if I would ever get to the bottom of them all!]

Blessings in Disguise...

Yes, I'm still pretty sad about losing the iTouch....but as I'm realizing, it can be a blessing in disguise!

So don't cry too much for me! As I've realized without it...I've come to depend too much upon electronics and the "instant answer" when it comes to spiritual searching. I want to find a verse and I look it up instantly on my iTouch, or I want to know an answer and it's there. But now I am being forced to return to the old-fashion method....just thumbing through my concordance and reading my paper-page Bible! Not that these electronic conveniences are bad....but I think we can depend too much upon them. At least I have.

What am I gonna do when I'm out running or hiding in the wilderness someday, and all I have is ME and MY Bible!! Will I know where to find what I need....will I know how to do stuff the old-fashion way??

Well...I'm still sad about losing Mr. iTouch....so you can still cry with me. But I am learning to see the blessing in disguise as well... :-)

It's ok!!

Watery Grave...

I baptized my iTouch yesterday....very much by accident. And I don't think it's gonna recover!!! I had put it in my back pocket as I had been using it too look up promises of Scripture as we prayed, and it fell out of my pocket into the toilet on one of my bathroom trips. I grabbed it right out, but it wasn't meant to be baptized....so the damage was already done. It died!

Now I'm starting to feel the loss....and I am heart broken!!!!!!!!!

This beautiful piece of equipment, which I got for FREE when I bought my MacBook last year (but cost about $229 to replace), has become like my little brain that I take with me everywhere. It had all the features of an iPhone minus the PHONE ability....so I've even used it to check e-mail or type messages when needed. It had all my drug encyclopedias for Nursing, several Bible Versions, my addresses and contacts and passwords that I'd uploaded on it's applications, all my music (which of course I still have on my computer backed up in iTunes and which I use often to help me go to sleep at night as it drowns out the noise of the girls around the dorm), and it has a host of other applications that I have found to be so helpful. My biggest loss though is that most recently I had found a program that enables me to make scripture memory flip cards to put all my Bible verses into, so I don't have to carry around all these rings of cards. I just flip through my verses with one touch....it's all there in the size of a wallet...rather than all these gobs of cards I use to carry everywhere!!

However, now it's GONE...it's dead...and there's nothing I can do but cry and go on!

Would you join me by mourning its loss? :-(((((((((((((((((((((

Early to rise...equals Colorado Sunrise!!

I've actually been enjoying the Colorado sunrises this week...they are beautiful!

Yes, believe it or not, I'm finally starting to get on top of my schedule...getting morning exercise (which I need) and prayer time (which I can't do without) into my schedule! I haven't exercised much in awhile, so this week for the first time I started getting up at 4:45am so I could go jogging a couple miles before my friends and I meet for prayer! It's a bit early....but I've been making it. And you can know that by the time 8:30pm comes at night, I am ready for bed.... Smiles! (Mom, aren't you proud of me?!)

While I've always been an early to rise person (my whole family is), I've struggled with going to bed early a lot these last few years, especially when I take so many projects under my belt. I have more and more found myself burning the candle at both ends. So it's good that my sleeping habits are getting changed for the better. (Of course, it might help that I don't have Internet access at night right now, so wont stay awake answering ARME e-mails, writing my blog, or reading!)

I guess I am not the only one being affected in a positive way. It was kinda funny because my friends and I went to a nursing home last night to get acquainted with all the sweet elderly people, where we will be doing some outreach. We spent some general time just visiting with them and then sang songs to them. (Reminds me of highschool days!)

Anyway, at the end when we were saying goodbye...it was about 8:00pm, and one of the young gals in our group asked an older lady there... "Are you tired? Are you ready for bed yet?" "Oh no!" the lady replied. "I can stay up a lot longer! How about you?" There was a pause. "Well, um....I'm tired....I'm ready for bed!" the girl replied. We all laughed as we realized the irony of it. Here we young ones, that should be staying up partying at night, or at least on the Internet, are now getting use to getting up at such early hours to spend time with God, that when the sun begins to set...the party is over. We are ready for bed! Kinda a turn-around from modern culture...and yet isn't this the way it should be?

When it comes to developing consistent habits of getting up early to spend time with God (which means, going to bed early so you're not too exhausted to get up early and spend time with God), I heard about something very applicable that happened with John Wesley during his life of service to God.

One evening John Wesley had been invited by a very important dignitary to spend time with him. This was an honor that few received. However, before the evening was over, John Wesley got up and began to excuse himself saying that he needed to leave. The dignitary was almost offended. "Why are you leaving when the night is still young. Don't you realize that I am a very important man and many people beg to spend time with me at my table?" John Wesley's simple reply was this... "I don't mean to offend you Sir, and feel very honored for this time together. But I have an appointment with the King of the Universe now, and I dare not be tired and I dare not be late."

Wow!! Isn't that powerful? He's showing, as it should be for all of us, that making sure we have that personal devotional time with God is MORE important than spending time with a worldly dignitary! I've thought about this for a long time actually....even thought about writing a blog post or article called, "The morning after the night before." It's theme of course, would have been revolving around learning to plan ahead...even the night before, so you are rested and ready to meet your appointment with God in the morning! I don't think I need to write the article though...as this illustration proves the point perfectly!

So here's to going to bed early......so you don't wake up late! :-)

We have a sweeter Song to sing...

Learning the art of "Intercession" is so needed in our day and age. We need to be made strong by God so that we can be poured out for the weak. When a baby is learning to walk and falls, everyone thinks it's cute. But that baby will learn to walk, and he will fall less and less. He will grow up and run and climb mountains. That's expected! If he gets to 22 and he's still trying to walk or falling all the time, you know there is something wrong. It's not cute anymore!! The same is true with us as Christians.

It's ok that we start out as babies in Christ...feeding on the milk of the word, stumbling and falling in sin and getting back up again. But God designed for us to GROW UP, to mature in the faith, to be men and women of His strength, able to learn to help others to walk, to be intercessors standing in the gap and filling in the breeches for others. But most of Christianity today is still toddling around like babies. We have soooo many of our own issues that we can't do anything or go anywhere without falling. We have soooo many holes in our own spiritual walls that we cannot help fill in the breeches of others.

In fact, regarding ISSUES, it seems that we spend our lives diagnosing ISSUES. We think we are special because we have this problem or that, we have this bad experience or that, we have this battle scar or that. We think our issues and problems will be fixed if we take a med, have a change of circumstances or environment, or if we could be married to a different person! However, as one of my favorite authors puts it: "I have news for all of us!!! WE are NOT special! We all have ISSUES...but all our ISSUES are the result of only ONE BIG ISSUE...and that ISSUE is SIN!!!! SIN results in lots of ISSUES! We think our ISSUES are too big for God to deal with, but He's already dealt with root of all issues - SIN - so nothing is too big for Him!"

"So...you all want to know, where do we start?? Jesus Christ!!! He is the only solution. When we get stuck diagnosing ourselves or trying to work our our own problems in our way, we are saying we are greater than God. He can't solve my issues, I have to work them out. But self-work is not the solution. The only answer is Jesus Christ! That's what we will be pointing you back to over and over again!"

"My wife and I are not the answer...we don't want you to depend upon us! We don't want you to depend upon each other. Encourage each other, lift each other up, pray with each other....yes...but don't lean upon fellow humans. Your only safety is learning to lean upon Christ! The "selfishness and neediness" among believers, those that should be born again and baptized by the power of the spirit has got to stop! Satan's greatest joy is when we stay STUCK on ourselves and our weaknesses and our sins...but this does not bring glory to God. We must learn to run to Him...to abide in Him...to gain our daily strength from Him!"

Key thoughts to contemplate...

• God's Kingdom and His glory (our Kingdom and our glory must die!)
• That we would seek after Holiness of life - not in our own might, but in His strength! (All that He has commanded us to do, we can achieve in Him!)
• That we would see it an honor to take the lowest place of service...even to die!
• That money, position, career, and all worldly esteem would loose their attraction in our hearts. (That our lives would truly be, all about Christ!)
• That we would not esteem the best-looking and most talented as most deserving of our time. (Israel chose Saul as King because he looked the best...but God's choice was a lowly shepherd boy! God is looking for those truly humble and teachable in heart...not the proud, good looking or talented. We must be nothing in our own eyes, or He can make nothing of us!!)

We have a Sweeter Song to sing...

There is a legend about a point along the Sirene coast where sailors always wrecked their ships because they were pulled in by the intoxicating melodies of the sirene's. (Remember this is a legend!) Usually one or another thing happened. They wanted to hear it so badly, even though they knew others had died passing by, they thought they were strong enough. So they sailed past the dangerous point. They too would be drawn in and killed as their ships dashed upon the rocks. Others would put wax in their crew's ears (so they could not hear) and then would have the crew tie them to the mast, so that no matter what they heard, they could not give in to temptation. They stayed tied to the mast until danger was past, but about died from the agony of wanting to get closer to shore. Seemed like there was only TWO WAYS to get past. Give in and die, or tie yourself to the mast and suffer.

But one captain had a better idea....As their ship got close to the coast where the enchanting music played, he brought out his violin and began to play the sweetest songs. They sailed by the coast without ever hearing the music from the sirenes.

The same is true in the Christian life. It's not to be about telling you what you can't do - "Don't sail near that coast line or you will die!" It's not to be a free-for-all where we all do what we want, and then we have constant failure or regret as we fall over and over again. Nor should it be about righteous works - tying ourselves to the mast so that we can't give into temptation. Our lives are to be a "Sweeter Song," such a sweet song of Heaven that we will not even WANT to listen to the song of the world or the voices of temptation around us. We can only learn this sweeter song by focusing on Christ...Christ, and more of Christ! There is a sweeter song to this Christian life...unfortunately, most of us have never seen it, heard it, let alone sung it!

Sleep walking discoveries...

So the other night I got up...I was looking for my flash light actually...and was pawing through the stuff that I thought was on my my shelf. But I couldn't find it...And I was finding things that I didn't recognize the shape of. A coffee mug, a glass case, blush brushes, dried flowers...I don't even remember what all it was. But I was thoroughly confused! Where was my flashlight! I continued to grope around in the dark....then I walked over to what I thought was my bed and there was someone in it. I touched their hair and it was curly. "This is really weird!" I thought! I am sooo confused. It was still dark and I began to panic... "I'm lost! I can't find my light and I am stuck here!" Then it slowly began to dawn on me that I was sleep-walking, and I was rummaging through my roommates stuff. After a bit of stumbling through the dark, I finally found my side of the room again and I found my flash light. But I was still half asleep and half confused. I ended back on her side of the room with my flash light looking through her books. I actually needed to go to the bathroom. I don't know why I was still looking through her books. Finally I began to wake up enough to realize the ridiculousness of what I was doing and I found the bathroom. I hoped I hadn't woken her up. Can you just imagine it? She'd be like, "What are doing looking through my stuff!" I was soooo embarrassed. But I was really confused and turned around!

The next morning, my midnight escapade was only a faint memory. She hadn't even felt me touch her head or anything, and thankfully she hadn't seen me pawing through her stuff. But it was funny, because although the meanderings of my night were just a foggy memory, I saw a picture in my mind of my roommate on the back of a book. Had I imagined it, had I actually seen it, or was my mind just playing tricks on me. So I asked her... "Is your picture on the back of a book or something? I'm thinking I saw that last night when I was sleep walking and finally found my light..." Well...it turns out my mind wasn't playing tricks on me!

My roommate is an author and I didn't even know it! In fact, this is a book of her thoughts and testimony from over 5 years ago! Wow!!! She gave me a copy and I've already been enjoying reading it. It's a true hearted call from a young girl, calling her generation (that's us) to turn our hearts back to God and stop being caught up in the thinking patterns of the world. I'm inspired...

So....hmmm...I was thinking maybe I should pray for some more midnight sleep walking episodes. Maybe there is even more for me to discover...not just about Tessa...but about God's calling upon my life!

So what is the Gospel??

If you ask this question, most people would respond..."In a nutshell, the gospel is that Jesus died for my sins, so now I can go to Heaven and live forever with Him." However, while that is truth, that is only a very small piece of the truth!

This is the fuller story....

We have been sold into sin - we are carnal. Because of that we have taken the throne that belongs to God and claimed it as our own. We are living in sin under the enemy's rulership of this world.

Unfortunately, "The wages of sin is death."

Satan has almost succeeded in destroying us and we are in prison with a death sentence hanging over our heads. But then Jesus comes as our intercessor to take the "death sentence" that is rightfully ours. By taking our "death sentence," he has paid the penalty of sin, and opens the prison door so we can go free.

However, although He unlocks that door...many of us stay inside. We're scared to step out, or we're not sure if we truly are forgiven. However, the miracle and magnificence of the gospel is that Jesus didn't die for us and save us to leave us in prison living in the stench and filth of sin. He died to set us free from it as well.

In fact, He not only died to remove us from that prison cell...but He invites us to live in His kingdom. When we realize how undeserving we are of his goodness, our natural response is probably, "I don't deserve to be in His Kingdom. I'll gladly take the lowliest position among his subjects, just to be there is enough." But no, it goes farther. He not only died to free us, so we could leave that prison and live in His Kingdom, but He wants us to live in His own palace. "Wow - that's too big a honor!" we say. "I don't deserve to be there. Maybe I could be one of the King's door-keepers or servants." But the good news of the gospel is, that Jesus didn't just die to rescue us from prison, to bring us to his kingdom, to live in His palace....He wants us to live in his throne room WITH HIM!!!"

"Ok, now we have gone waaaaaaay too far! This is too much!" we think. "I can't live in his throne room. I'm not deserving of that....just make me a servant."

But Jesus doesn't take us to his throne room to be his servant...He adopts us as his sons and daughters! And he gives us the keys to his kingdom. Everything that He has is ours for the taking. We don't deserve it, not one single bit....yet Jesus gives it to us! ALL!!! However, it doesn't stop there.

Our King Jesus beckons us close. "I have a job for you..." he says with a smile. We reply in humble adoration. "Anything Lord! Anything! Whatever you want....your wish is my command."

"I need you to go back to that prison cell that I rescued you from, and I need you to rescue the other captives that are still there. I'm calling you to die to self and all worldly interest. I need you to go..."

"Gladly!!!" we cry! "Our greatest joy would be to help others receive the incredible gift you have given us and to bring us back to your Kingdom! We long to share the joy of your presence with others."

"But wait..." he continues. "I'm not done! I'm not sending you alone! I'm going with you! I will live in you, I will be your strength."

And so we go, hiding in the strength of our Lord. Just being together is Heaven. Of ourselves, we can do no more then a little child shoveling snow out of the driveway. All the work is really Christ's...but still he honors us by allowing us to work at His side, and it seems at times as if we are doing great things. But all the strength and the power and the rescue mission isn't not accomplish of ourselves. It's through His power in us! That is the ultimate purpose of the gospel!!

So that is the full story...Christ rescuing us, setting us free, cleansing us, changing us, bringing us to his Kingdom, to his palace, and to his throne...and then commissioning us through his power and through his strength to return to rescue others. That is the gospel message!!

What is true Prayer...

A group of us were to meet for prayer this am. I wasn't sure if I was going to go, but God woke me up (5:02am to be exact) in time enough to rub the sleep out of my eyes and take a shower so I could meet with the group by 5:30. So I made it....and so glad I did!

Our prayer leader started by sharing how prayer is an art of God, and just as there is the true and the false in every other spiritual discipline, there is the true and false way to pray as well. We want to make sure that we are truly praying God's way and in His Spirit, and not in our flesh. So there are THREE important things to learn if we want to truly pray and see results!

1. Pray God's prayers.
2. Pray in Faith!
3. Pray until the answer comes!

What does it mean to pray God's prayers?

Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

We must ASK GOD to remove all roadblocks of sin in our hearts, we must ask him to teach us how to pray, what to pray for, and what His will is. Our natural human prayers tend to be selfish and self-centered. It is not our task to save the world, that is God's task...but we are to cooperate with Him and be in tune to His voice, so we know where to focus our time, our energies and our prayers...not just pick and choose who and what we think we should pray for! Even when we are praying for others, our prayers may sound all flowery and nice, but they are often springing from our own mind, born of the flesh and not of the spirit. We must be humbled and broken and put all flesh aside and cry out to God to teach us to pray, teach us WHO to pray for, WHAT to pray for, and HOW to pray for it. Nothing in prayer should be of ourself.

Sure, God still cares, He still hears...and He honors our feeble attempts at prayer. But if we really want to see results, if we really want to see spiritual power in our lives...we must learn to silence the flesh and allow His spirit to give us the prayers we should be praying!!

God has already given us parameters in which we are to pray, knowing that He will answer...and that is what is ACCORDING to HIS WILL. But we have to get our mind in tune with His, we have to be open to His voice (like we are to our mother), or we wont hear what we are to pray for. We will just invent our own words and our own prayers, and they are empty!

Secondly, we are to Pray in Faith! He's promised us victory from sin. He's promised us the ability to tear down Satan's strong-holds. He's promised us to bring us to Canaan. He's promised us souls for the Kingdom. He's promised us whatever will advance His Kingdom and glory. He's promised us wisdom. He's promised us strength...the promises are ENDLESS!!! Yet we sit around praying our selfish childish prayers, stuttering along, our request too vague and nebulous to even know if God is answering or not, and yet wondering if God will hear and afraid to claim anything boldly. We don't truly believe! We don't step forward in faith claiming that which God has already promised us!

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb 11:6

"God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has he said it, and shall he not do it. Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good." Numbers 23:19

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..." James 1:6

Thirdly, our leader shared, if we want to see answers, we are to pray with perseverance...we are to pray until the answer comes, or until we have peace in our hearts that God has granted our request! God's ways and God's timing aren't always our own, but we are to continue in faith before His throne, asking for His will, and persevering until the answer comes. We loose much because we give up too easily....sometimes God wants to build our faith, sometimes there are obstacles to fight through...but we must keep at it.

I am reminded of Daniel 10:12-13

"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the Prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days."

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa 55:11

Either God is who He says He is, and He honors His word...or this whole thing called Christianity is just one big farce! Will we believe, will we trust, will we press forward in faith.

After telling us about the three ways to ensure our prayers are answered, he began to pray...so firm and strong. I almost expected to hear thunder in the distance. This is a man that knows His God, and He knows what to pray for...and He's seen God work in amazing and mighty ways!

All I can say is, it was beautiful! You'd have to have been part of it to understand...

Frazzelnut Ice-cream...Ummmmm......Yum!!!

An illustration reflecting what often happens in modern Christianity:

Sales-woman to customer:

"Have you heard about the amazing "Frazzlenut Ice-cream"?? If you haven't tried it, you simply must. It's the latest hot, or should I say "cool," thing on the market with ingredients of only the finest quality. Frazzlenuts of course, rich carmel, mouth watering chocolates, and some special secret flavors that everyone is dying to know. Let me just tell you, it is the most luscious dessert you will ever wrap your taste buds around! And when you swallow it, as it goes down your throat and into your stomach, it has healing properties that heals any digestive ailments you may have. It's so extra-ordinary that we've built schools to train people how to make it. Like I said, the ingredients are extra-ordinary, specially imported from several parts of the world, and I can tell you about each one of them...that is except for the secret flavors. (For now, that's a secret!) Furthermore, I can tell you how the Ice-cream is processed and why it has to be made in only specialized factories. For one, it goes through a special machine unlike any other ice-cream maker ever invented, which allows the Frazzelnuts and chocolates to be folded into the carmel cream within separate layers. And that's just getting started. Like I said, there is so much to tell. In fact, this ice-cream is such a winner that we've even written songs about it. I can teach them to you. We sing them every day. You really must buy some and take it home to share with your family...you wont regret it!"

Customer: "That sounds great! Do you eat the stuff yourself?"

Sales-woman: "Well.......(pause)...... No! I'm Vegan! But, I know it's REALLY good. You simply must buy some!"

Like I said, this is kinda a funny scenario I put together based on some things my friend Eric shared, yet if I think about it in relation to the Christian life. How many of us go through our lives talking about God, memorizing scripture, memorizing all the proof texts, knowing how to give Bible studies, rattling off the answers to all the Bible questions, singing songs to honor God...yet we haven't really tasted for ourselves that God is good! We haven't experienced him truly for ourselves!

It's like we grow up memorizing the map of Christianity, we guard the map with our lives, we talk about it, we philosophize about different routes we could take, we look at pictures of the scenic parks on the map, and we talk about the journey. But we never go anywhere...we just talk about the journey...we don't take it!

This is where most of surface Christianity hangs out! Everyone is great map-readers and great salesmen for "Frazzlenut Ice-cream." But they've never taken the journey themselves, and they've never really tasted the ice-cream...It's all just in their heads. The intellectual understanding hasn't gotten to their hearts!

Let's stop being good salesmen, and start taking the journey ourselves!!

Are we still walking in the Wilderness??