Category: Prayer

Clippin’ Grace Coupons in Ministry

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Joy, Prayer, Uncategorized

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While looking back through my journal for this the first week of the New Year, my, how faithful, good, and loving God has been.  But, true is, that is not surprising because that’s Who He is!  So when you come to know Him, you watch for where He is at work, you recognize His revealed character/attibutes, and then you respond to Who He is.  I promise you, if you recognize Who He is, you will never miss what He does.  So with that in mind, here’s a recap of some of God’s grace this week.

#1  Answered Prayer!!

I could on and on about this one!!  One of the best is the reminder to never stop praying for our unsaved family and friends.

In Wednesday’s post, I wrote about Barbara Chandler’s investments in others’ lives. Her greatest investment was in prayer, especially for the salvation of her husband.  For many, many years she labored in prayer for him.  He was known for his many trips across the state line where he would get drunk and also squander their money on the lottery.

I learned while attending her funeral on Tuesday that God answered her prayer and the prayers of countless others.  Seven years, at the age of 81, Ralph humbled himself before the Lord and received Him as his personal Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-13).

May we have the heart of Barbara Chandler as well as the Apostle Paul who said, I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, […]Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)

 #2  Blessed Quietness


How wonderful to spend a day on the lake, in the Word, in prayer, seeking the Lord for what He would have me preach.  The serene quiet, the voice of the Lord, and setting at Jesus’ feet is invaluable time spent.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He (Jesus) went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

#3   Encouragement

Yesterday was a full day of ministry opportunities that included a funeral, a hospital visit, and mentoring to name a few.  When I arrived home around 9:15, I checked my Facebook and found I had been tagged by my oldest daughter.  Here’s a throwback video of a song that has meant so much to me over the years.  I needed this last night. I needed to be reminded that in the midst of all of life and ministry’s demands, Jesus is always the center of my joy.

(Also made me think of a very special group of teenagers who gathered in Spain two years ago!)

Center of My Joy

Living Well in 2017

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Uncategorized

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“The Christian life starts with the promises of God. He makes claims about Himself and gives us promises about our salvation and our future. Then, having trusted in those promises, we respond in faith and obedience to God’s commands.” (Kevin De Young)

There are over 7,000 promises in the Word of God.  One of the most well-known involves prayer.  Let’s sink our tap-roots into Jeremiah 33:3 for a moment and note with me four promise words from this passage:  Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

COMMAND

Call to me – “to cry out, call aloud, literally to roar”

Here is the promise of an invitation in the form of a command.  God knows exactly what we need for life, and He does not leave us wondering. At the very root of prayer and our great need is simply crying out to God.

Believers who really believe in the promises of God, who walk by faith, are not fearful to cry out to God!

Psalm 4:3             But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

 CONFIDENCE

I will answer you – “to heed, to pay attention, to give answer”

Here is the promise that God will answer you.  He gives us His undivided attention every time we cry out to Him.  His answers are always best, even when there is delay or a no.

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

CHARACTER

I will show you great things

Show – to make conspicuous something that was previously unknown

Great – in importance, as here, God Himself

Here is the promise that when we pray, God will reveal Himself to us.  God operates totally and consistently based upon Who He is.  Study through the Old Testament and see how He revealed Himself to Abraham, for instance, via His names and His attributes.  The great things in prayer are not first of all His answers but the revelation of Who He is.

In response to Jeremiah’s prayer recorded in chapter 32, God responds in verses 26-27, Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

So, when you pray, look for Who God is, then watch His hand.

CLEAR

I will show you mighty things

Here’s the promise of God taking you into the secret place of His counsel, the intimacy of His fellowship, into the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).

This word mighty refers to “hidden, inaccessible” things.  It pictures an impregnable city protected by high walls.  When you pray, God takes you behind all the ‘stuff of this world,” all the circumstances of your life, things you do not understand, and He brings you into the secret place of His grace, His wisdom, His love, His mercy, His power, His resources, His faithfulness, and on and on and on.

No one can touch the mighty things of God; they are inaccessible.  You have access to them by the work of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Romans 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:18-19; 3:12; Hebrews 10:19-23).

 

The strongest believers are those on their knees surrendered and believing the promises of God.  That’s living well in 2017.

Wise is he in the day of trouble who knows his true source of strength and who fails not to pray. (E.M. Bounds)

Christmas In the Past; Life in the Present

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Christmas, Parenting, Praise & Worship, Prayer, Uncategorized

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The build-up and anticipation of Christmas is unequaled in our country!  As is often said, “The preparation for Christmas seems to get earlier and earlier each year.”  Indeed, Christmas is a very special holiday and one that many folks prepare for throughout the whole year.  But, what about the days after?  Is there a let-down?  After all the planning and performing of cantatas as well as children’s plays, buying and wrapping gifts, preparing for company and meals,  taking family photos, and  celebrating firsts (marriage, children, house, job), is all over, how will you handle the days and the weeks after?

  1. Begin today in God’s Word reading it with the same passion as you did all the “Christmas passages.” Memorize other portions of the Word of God with the same fervor as you did to memorize Luke 2:1-20.  Read books about the life of Christ beyond the cradle with the same zeal as you did all the Christmas books.  Read them to your children, and make Christ’s life BIG to them every day!!
  2. Live with a daily anticipation of the next biggest day of your life as a believer—the Rapture & the Bema (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; 12 Corinthians 5:10).
  3. Enjoy singing songs of praise and worship to our God all the other months of the year with gusto and joy on your face as you did the carols of this season (Psalm 96:1-9).
  4. Be a giver today as you were on Christmas (Acts 20:35).
  5. Open up your home for family and guests today and into next year (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9).
  6. Walk in the same grace today that was sufficient yesterday as you dealt with the “tug in your heart” over that special person that was not here this Christmas season (2 Corinthians 12:9).
  7. Be as energetic today about the gospel as you have been prior to December 25 (Philippians 1:27).

2 Peter 1:3-8

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Photo:  Steven Lawson)

Scratchin’ My Head

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Praise & Worship, Prayer, Uncategorized

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Yesterday’s presidential election was, I believe, a display of the mercy of God and a direct answer to the millions who gave hours to effective, fervent prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  God heard our cries, and our nation has been delivered, this time, from four or more years of a pagan, ungodly, anti-Christ government, national agenda.  It was as though we were in Daniel’s shoes as he prayed for the city of Jerusalem and Israel, O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name (9:19), God intervened once again.

What rejoicing is wrought when God answers from His Holy Throne in mercy, grace and victory!  Yesterday, the election results were the buzz.  But, I have to be honest with you.  I am scratchin’ my head at something.  To watch God work in such a powerful way, in such a way that left many in disbelief, I am at a loss to explain why our churches were not filled to capacity last night with the people of God from everywhere praising the Lord in song, testimony, praise and MORE PRAYER.  Quite frankly, I am perplexed.

After the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea, the people of Israel gathered to sing the song of the redeemed (Exodus 15) in praise for God’s deliverance.  A parallel passage to Exodus 15 is found in Isaiah 12 which has an eschatological tone of millennial praise!  What a day that will be for the nation of Israel and us! Seems like to me that the hymn of praise recorded in Isaiah should have been the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart (Psalm 19:14) last night in prayer  and praise gatherings across this land!!

Still scratchin’ my head this morning.

Our Native Tongue

by Dale, posted in Prayer, Uncategorized

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Last evening, while contemplating my Monday, a personal day of prayer and Bible study with the election heavy on my heart and mind, I began to watch the Worship Night in America video.  As the introduction played along, I heard the following statements, and they greatly resonated in my heart!

Prayer is the language of the people of God.

Prayer is her native tongue.

Today marks the end of an election that has brought many things to the forefront of people’s minds, both positive and negative, but none greater among evangelicals, I believe, than prayer.  How awesome to see in recent months the people of God at Boones Creek Bible Church express the language of Heaven, to meet together for three hours and cry out to God, to gather in small groups around the front of the church and speak our native tongue, to have a group gather every Monday for one hour or more to gather around the Throne of Grace, and even this past Sunday night to watch a remnant of the church broken before God in faith-believing, intercessory, confessional, repentive supplication that led to a crescendo of worship-filled song!

God loves to hear His redeemed pray, to cry out to Him.

Psalm 34:15 – The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

Psalm 66:19-20 – But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me.

Proverbs 15:29 – The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Christ shed His blood to open the way to the Throne of Grace.  He has given us a language, a native tongue, which identifies us as true believers reconciled back to God into the fellowship of grace and mercy through Christ alone. There is never a moment that we do not need God; we are desperate for Him every moment of our lives . . . and He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Now that this election is hours from being over, may the passion for prayer and in prayer continue.  Yes, prayer is the language, the native tongue of God’s people.  It is the atmosphere of every believer.

Psalm 18:6 – In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

The Priority of Life

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting, Christian Living, Prayer, Uncategorized
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MYBIBLE.COM

Prayer should be the number one priority of our life.  That’s your life-line to the Throne of Grace. That’s how you seek God first (Matthew 6:33). “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.   Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan” (John Bunyan).

A shield to the soul

Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.  (Psalm 28:6-7)

A sacrifice to God

Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm 144:1-2)

A scourge to Satan

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Often I hear my wife say, “No decision before prayer.”  If you seek Christ first, I think you will be engaged throughout your day in much silent and vocal communication with your Heavenly Father Who loves you and always has His ear open to your cry!

 

Your Daily Planner

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Uncategorized
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Effexis Software

Does your daily planner resemble this one?  Look through your personal planner for a moment (whether you have one or not).  What does it reveal about you?  You have planned work, meetings, school, fitness, entertainment, grocery shopping, ballgames, school events, eating out, visits to family, church, etc.  When do you pray?  I know you can pray throughout the day, and you should, but when do you really pray?  When do you meet with God? Is it scheduled in your planner?  Is it every day?  Why or why not?  Do you really think you can get through your day without an appointment with God Who gives you all that you need for life today?  If you alone have the ability to make yourself breathe, think, see, remember, feel, touch, walk, talk, plan, play, drive, eat, lead, wash, put your make up on, make decisions, worship, sing, listen, understand Scripture, run, put on your clothes, all the stuff of life. . . . YOU DO NOT NEED GOD.

But, if you fully understand the truths of Acts 17:24-31 (see below), you will most certainly make a daily appointment with God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our Advocate and High Priest (1  John 2:1; Hebrews 4:14-16).  You are desperate for Him.  You know you really, really need Him every moment of the day and night.  You know you need the grace of God, the wisdom of God, the power of God, the comfort of God, the direction of God, the love of God, the mercy of God, the Word of God, the forgiveness of God, the mercy of God, the kindness of God, the faithfulness of God, . . . the absolute fullness of God which is found only in a personal relationship with the Lord Christ Jesus (John 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:1-4).

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Andrew Bonar said it so well:  “Why is there so little forethought in the laying out of time and employment, so as to secure a large portion of each day for prayer?  Why is there so much speaking, yet so little prayer?  Why is there so much running to and fro to meetings, conventions, fellowship gatherings and yet so little time for prayer?  Brethren, why so many meetings with our fellow men and so few meetings with God?  (Deep Fire, ChristLife Publications, p. 305)

What does your daily planner reveal about your prayer life?

Thirsty & Crying

by Dale, posted in Church, Prayer, Uncategorized

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Why is it that when you call for a prayer meeting, born again believers run the other way?  Why is it that if you schedule, let’s say, a fall leaf trip excursion, folks are willing to gather at 7:00 a.m., but if you call for a prayer meeting on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., a handful show up?  Why are believers afraid of entering the secret place of the Most High God (Psalm 91:1)?

To run from prayer is to run from God.  Oh, how He longs to hear the cries of His people!  How He longs for us to commune and listen to Him!  Oh, how He longs for us to look to Him for His powerful, life-altering, God-glorifying answers to our supplications!   How He longs to enjoy fellowship with us; that’s why Christ died for every one of us.

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Is your soul really thirsty and crying out for God?  Matthew Henry said, “God is more willing to be prayed to, and more ready to hear prayer, than we are to pray.”

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:15, 17).

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God (Psalm 42:1).

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).

And they continued steadfastly (to give constant attention to) . . .in prayers (Acts 2:42).

And They Continued

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting, Church, Praise & Worship, Prayer, Uncategorized
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Men’s Prayer Advance

One of the most fascinating books in the Bible is the one penned by Luke, the book of Acts.  Every time I read the first few chapters and see the early church in action, my heart shifts into fourth gear, and it’s rolling!  What an awesome privilege to be involved in the much later years of continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ, not because of who and what we are, but because of Who and What  He is!!  Does it get any better than that????  Wow!

In the second chapter, I find a word that resonates in my heart . . . continue (2:42, 46-47).  These passages read, They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The word continue means to “give constant attention to” (2:42) and “to continue all the time in a place” (2:46).  The first definition speaks of a daily attitude toward prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and the second refers to set times of corporate prayer.  Put the two together and you see that no matter when the church meets, whether on a Sunday or in someone’s home or at a small group fellowship gathering or in a leadership meeting, prayer is always a part of that meeting.   Interesting that the second word is in the present tense, therefore, this praying in community never stops; it is always an essential element of corporate gatherings no matter the size. And may I add, I really believe that this time of prayer is not just for the food or a brief time of prayer so we can move onto the rest of our business, service, or activity.  Prayer as we see in the early church was indeed their declaration of total dependence upon God!

If Boones Creek Bible Church is to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ as it moves forward through its 60th year of ministry, we MUST CONTINUE in prayer just as we see in Acts 2:42, 46.  Truth is, the Church really did not begin at Pentecost.  It all started in a prayer meeting in the Upper Room prior to Pentecost . . . These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14).

And they continued in prayer.

Clippin’ Grace Coupons In Ministry

by Dale, posted in Church, Ministry, Pastoring, Prayer, Uncategorized

A Place to Meet with God and Study His Word:  Since returning from our time away in August, I have rearranged my schedule.  As a pastor who has been preaching the Word for 41 years, it would be real easy to coast along in sermon preparation.  Recognizing the need of keeping my heart on fire and hearing directly from the Throne of God, I have made it a point to give Monday and Tuesday to digging in the Word, sitting at Jesus’ feet, seeking God’s face for my messages.  I do not want give the congregation I love so dearly “leftovers” or a “fast-food” sermon.  My sheep need good grain that comes from the hand of God.  So, with that in mind, the Lord has graciously provided a place that has become very dear to me.  A place where my cell phone has almost a non-existent signal; a place of extreme quiet; a place removed from the distractions of home where my study is located; and a place that causes me to be very intentional.  This is a huge grace coupon!!

Mentoring:  Our neighbor’s two children attend Pioneer Club, our Wednesday children’s ministry.  If a child has to miss a night, they can make it up during the week.  So, what a thrill to help my little buddy next door with his assignment.  I had a hard time holding back the tears.  He is so precious, and like a grandson to us.  He is all boy!!!  Thank You, Lord, for another grace coupon!!  God, you are so good to me!!

Country Living:  Our home is a genuine gift of God’s grace.  The story behind it and how He has used it in these three years for ministry has been and is awesome!!  Here’s the view yesterday morning.  I never tire of the quiet, the cattle across the way, the sunrise, and the time spent in prayer and in God’s Word . . . here in the country!!  Love those grace coupons!!

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).