Category: Prayer - Jethro TOOLS

Challenge the Culture

2/1/2026

Colossians 1:9-12
What can weigh over 100 pounds and is known as a semi aquatic rodent? If you guessed the beaver, you would be correct. A beaver will work tirelessly to build dams that create and expand its water habitat. This increase in water allows the beaver greater mobility, protection and access to more abundant sources of food. However, a busy beaver will also create conditions that attract incests, birds and fish. As beaver influenced wetlands increase so also do the benefits for migratory birds, deer and moose increase. A simple beaver will work tenaciously to bring lasting change and influence its surrounding community. Believers in Jesus Christ are to do the same. We are called to bring the message of Jesus to a world that is dry and in desperate need of His life giving water (see John 4). We influence our world for Christ by appropriating His power and seeing Him use us to bring His lasting change within our community. In Colossians 1 Paul prays that God would supply this church with an abundant supply of the knowledge of His will (9). He prays the they would find spiritual stability in living for God (10), and the spiritual strength to patiently endure under pressure (11). The disciple who understands that their past is paid by Christ, and their future is secure in Christ, is presently able to live a life of joy that honors Christ (12). Regardless of the circumstances the believer finds their secure standing in Christ. Knowing that we belong to Christ we therefore have hope in all circumstances. From the position of spiritual security we are able to give joyful thanks to God. We are called to challenge our culture by living counter to our culture and spread the contagious joy of knowing Christ within our culture. When we do, God will use us to leave a lasting spiritual legacy that will influence our culture for Him.

For More See COLOSSIANS

Cure for the Culture

1/25/2026

Philippians 1:9-11
When we think of a broken heart we often think of a love that is lost and the individual flounders searching for a personal emotional cure to a failed relationship. However, there is actually a health issue called broken heart syndrome. This heart problem is caused by some sudden stress that is placed upon the individual. This stress may come from a physical event like a car accident, an emotional event like grief or fear and even perhaps from consuming certain strong or spicy foods. The symptoms of broken heart syndrome are very much like a heart attack with chest pain and shortness of breath. However, broken heart syndrome is reversible within a few days or weeks because its cause is tied to the body and its production of a large amount of adrenaline. As we look at our world we see people with a spiritual heart issue. We see people living with a broken heart and not knowing the cure, and yet searching for one. As Paul says in Philippians chapter one there is a cure, and we as believers in Jesus Christ carry the cure. Paul is praying for the Philippian church that their love will thrive and multiply (19). This is an admission that they are a loving church, but also a petition asking God to step in and work in the life of this church even more. This love that the church has is a love that imitates God’s love in its sacrifice and service. This is not a romantic love or even a love between friends. God’s love is to be lived out by His followers because He has loved them first and therefore the church has the ability, capacity and example of how to love (1 John 4:19). We carry the cure of Christ and His forgiveness and love to a world full of people with a broken heart. God displays His cure for our culture through us as we love like Him.

For More See PHILIPPIANS

Courage in the Culture

1/11/2026

Ephesians 3:12-21
Obstacles and opposition; these are the problems that courage overcomes. However, as I stood shaking, my courage was gone. Zip, zap, gone. It all started with an invitation to an obstacle course. Two unimposing poles stood in the clearing. The challenge was to climb the first pole, stand on the top and then jump and grab on to the second pole. Sounds easy, right? Even with safety ropes and a harness strapped to me the pole still swayed. Somehow I managed to climb up and stand on the flat top of the pole that was no larger than a small dinner plate. That is when it hit. I lost all courage and excitement for this insane adventure. It is amazing how I could stand on almost nothing and the eight feet to the next pole was an impossible leap of faith. I froze in fear. I had lost my courage to overcome the obstacle. The same in true in our lives. Fear keeps us from moving forward, while faith motivates us with the knowledge that nothing will harm us. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, chapter three is the transitional hinge from theological truths to practical application. Paul closes the first half of the letter with a prayer for their inner strength (16). He does not pray for external or physical solutions, instead, he prays for their inner perspective. He desires that they know Christ and His power and love for them (17-19). At the point of salvation the believer in Jesus positionally comes into instant possession of all the resources available in Christ. Paul is challenging His readers to not only believe in their head, but know experientially by faith, the vast resources of Christ that give freedom to live courageously for Christ. Knowing Christ is like the safety line on the obstacle course. That relationship allows us to courageously take steps of faith in obedience to Christ call. That perspective and practice is counter to our culture.

For More See EPHESIANS

Discouragement

10/12/2025

1 Kings 19:1-18
Talk about discouragement. I watched as all my hard work slid to one side and oozed all over the bottom of the refrigerator. It all started with a dream. I had heard a news report where a baker combined a cake with a pie. The concept is fairly simple. Take a fully baked pie and turn it upside down in a cake pan. Next, pour a cake mix over the pie and bake. Repeat the process with two more pies and complementary cakes, then turn them over, stack them together, slather them with icing and enjoy. My problem was that the cherry pie was not firm enough and the chocolate cake was not cool enough. My elaborate dream ended up in a disastrous pile of goo in the fridge. What a mess! My wife and I laughed, because that is all we could do. I was disillusioned and discouraged. However, with new hope, a new plan and new pies I was able to finally pull off a towering delight that combined three cakes and three pies. First Kings 18 records the events of the disillusioned and discouraged prophet Elijah. Previously, Elijah had seen God perform a great victory over the false prophets, provide rain to the drought parched land, and the energy to out run the king and his chariot. Now, Elijah was spiritually disillusioned with the results of Mt. Carmel, physically drained from running, and emotionally discouraged. Has your dream turned to despair? Elijah was there. The queen threatened his life and he ran in fear (19:3). How can we live life with God’s point of view and not discouragement and fear? This Bible text calls us to remember God’s past work, believe that God is in control, find strength in God, listen to His word and follow His directions. When we do, God becomes central and the circumstances become secondary.

For More See 1 KINGS

Security

9/28/2025

Psalm 20
Some years ago I ended up with appendicitis. After a trip to the doctor’s office I was told go to the hospital immediately. My day and those following were turned completely upside down. After surgery there were some complications that led to a longer than expected recovery. The problem was that up to that point I was generally healthy, now I was confined to a bed in a hospital room. I was walking through the deep waters of troubling times. Perhaps you have been there. I could have, and did pray for God to return my health. However, I also prayed for God to use my unexpected problem and pain to gain His victory for His purpose. God answered that prayer, and over the next week or so I had multiple opportunities to talk with doctors, nurses and other staff about Jesus. Life is not about us and our problems, rather it is about how God is magnified through them. Psalm 20 opens with people praying for the king (1-4). Their prayer was not for the removal of the troubles but that David, the king, would believe God’s power and see His perspective. David and the people respond in complete confidence trusting God (5-8). The prayer for the king in troubling times was key for his confident faith in following God. How do we pray for others during times of trouble? Do we pray for their release from trouble or their practice of faith when in trouble? When we face times of trouble ourselves, do we invite others to pray for our spiritual perspective and a commitment to continue trusting God? We help others and ourselves grow in faith in times of trouble when we pray for God’s presence as we practice a Godly perspective of the problems at hand. Our prayer and praise turn our attention from the problem to our God who gives security in times of trouble.

For More See PSALMS

God of Faith

9/14/2025

Habakkuk 3:1-2
Where do you turn when life falls apart? If you have a fire, you would call the fire department. If you have a broken water line, you would call the plumber. In each instance, you have a belief, based on the facts, that this person will provide the solution. Confidence is defined as a firm trust or belief that is founded in something or someone. You could say you have confidence in a chair, but never prove it until you act and sit down. We see this confidence in God in the life of Habakkuk. The first two chapters of this book deal with Habakkuk questioning God’s actions, which are then followed by God’s responses. However, in turning the page to chapter three, Habakkuk models how we should pray in confidence for God’s action. He may not fully understand why God chooses to act the way He does, but he believes God and turns to God in prayer (1). This is the third cycle of conversation between the prophet and God, and it begins with Habakkuk’s emotional prayer. It records a deep cry for God to act in justice against sin while addressing God as the only sovereign LORD who is capable of dealing with national corruption. We often approach prayer with a lack of confidence because we can’t see God and do not see His action. Habakkuk tells us that confidence in God is found in who He is as God and the faithfulness seen in His Word (2). Habakkuk prays, remembering that God is in control and that He alone has provided the answers and hope. In his prayer, Habakkuk seeks God’s desires of revival and spiritual renewal within his country, and he prays for God’s mercy to transform rebellious hearts and lives. We must remember that prayer rarely practiced, is rarely continued, and rarely missed. Habakkuk models how to confidently pray when all seems when all seems hopeless. Are we praying?

For More See HABAKKUK

Questions of Faith

8/31/2025

Habakkuk 1:1-11
Try picking up a copy of pretty much any news paper, and take a look at the headlines. Does it inspire confidence and hope? I recall observing others in various settings reading their news paper and commenting or even debating what is reported. They would praise to political stance of the leader fighting corruption while hoping that something would change. They would recall times of rebellion that led to reform, but all too often what was once good took the slow slide to corruption. Why is it that most of what we see in the news is not inspiring or hopeful? News organizations like bad news, because bad news sells and bad news is the reality of what is seen in our world. We see the reports of murder, violence, embezzlement, greed, wars and impropriety. Yet as we look back through time, not much has changed. Habakkuk faced the same situation as he looked at his country. The king was evil and wicked (Jeremiah 23:13-19), and he led the nation down the same path. In the Old Testament book named after him, Habakkuk records his questions directed toward God that could still be echoed today. Habakkuk cries out from a heart of desperation asking if God answers prayer (2) and if God is going to act against the sin and corruption (3-4). God responds by giving hope and by reminding Habakkuk that He is sovereignly at work in unexpected ways (5-6). God offers hope to the desperate and discouraged and help from His unlimited sovereign resources. He has the end goal in mind not just the immediate fix. Often we may watch the news and read the newspaper and become distraught and discouraged over the rampant sin that surrounds us. The book of Habakkuk reminds us to embrace God and trust Him in all situations, even in the times that are seemingly hopeless. God does answer prayer. Keep praying. God is at work. Keep trusting Him.

For More See HABAKKUK

Member with Christ

7/27/2025

Acts 2:37-47
What is the best group to join? As people, we are not created to be alone. To solve that we spend time searching for places that we like and people that like us. We move to neighborhoods and communities we like. We become members of a country, communities, groups, associations, and even members of a family. The Bible refers to those that believe in Jesus as members of His body, a spiritual family called the church. The difficulty is that we view the church as a building. You may be asked, “What church do you belong to?” Our normal response is some form of directions to some building. The person who believes by faith in Jesus as their savior is made a member of God’s family (Romans 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27). The church is not a building, but the believers that gather together in a building are the church. In Acts 2 we see the beginning of the church, and the initial steps of church growth. It begins with Peter’s message encouraging people to believe in Jesus (14-39), and concludes with many people responding (41). These new believers, or new members, of the early church devoted themselves to the teaching of God’s word, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer (42). This chapter highlights what God does as He changes people, their beliefs about Jesus, and association with Jesus. You see, the early church was made up of people who had originally been opposed to Jesus. In coming to Christ they were changed by Christ. They now desired to learn of Christ through His word and live out those truths in a spiritual community with others. They were a changed people, who are now members with Christ. They had changed hearts and expressed the transformation through changed lives (46-47). Are you relationally connected to Jesus Christ and His church? Are you growing in Christ with others?

For More See ACTS

Prayer of One

4/6/2025

Luke 22:39-46
Perhaps you have seen over tired children have an emotional meltdown. It is not a pretty sight. All they will do is stand there and cry. If you ask them what is wrong they just cry and say, “I don’t know.” If you tell them that it is time to go to bed they will say through their tears, “But I’m not tired.” It is then that parental psychology along with great patience kicks in. As adults, we are just grown up children. We have learned how to manage the pressures of life by implementing what we have learned as children. God has designed the human body to respond to life’s pressures in various ways. The disciples of Jesus were no different. They were emotionally and mentally worn out with sorrow over Jesus coming death (45). Their natural response was to sleep to gain the strength to deal with the upcoming problem. Yet Jesus challenged them not to respond to life’s problems by not doing the first natural thing. In verse 46 He asked “Why are you sleeping?” Jesus wanted the disciples to know the power found in prayer to deal with the pressures. The temptation is to do what is natural. For a child it is stand there and cry. For the disciples it was sleep. When we pray we do what is unnatural to our human sensibilities. When we pray we find God strengthening us so we do not give into temptation of believing that God is incapable of working in the situation. Through prayer we can find God’s strength to stand under the pressures of life’s problems. Jesus showed the disciples the importance of responding on a spiritual level and gain God’s strength for life’s problems. Likewise, we need to do what is unnatural and pray for God’s strength rather than cry about the problem or trying to sleep off the problem.

For More See LUKE

The Disciple's Connection

1/12/2025

John 15:1-8
The garden this past summer produced a bumper crop of sunflowers. In fact one was over sixteen feet tall. However, large objects like that do not handle the force of wind very well. Examining the garden after a bit of strong wind revealed sunflower damage. Several plants were down. Upon further inspection we saw that two of the sunflowers had broken stalks and were wilting because they lost their connection to the roots and the life giving nutrients supplied to them. The plants with the broken stalks were beyond repair. They wilted, died and had to be removed. Just as the connection to the roots is essential for a sunflower to grow so also the disciple must remain connected to Christ to grow. In John 15 Jesus tells His disciples that he is the true life giving vine (1). Spiritual growth and fruitfulness are only found though our connection to Christ as our savior. That connection is formed as we trust in Christ’s sacrificial payment of our sin. However, Jesus does not end the conversation with saving faith. He challenges the disciples to a growing faith that is spiritually productive (4). The production of faith and true spiritual life is never found through individual effort. Jesus says that apart from Him there is no life and no fruit (5). The challenge that Jesus leaves His disciples, and us, is to allow His power to flow through us to produce His results and His praise (8). God desires that we have fruitful spiritual lives known for righteousness, giving, serving, and witnessing. That can only be accomplished through a relationship with Christ as we are connected to Him as savior. That connection is maintained through time in the word, prayer, fellowship and worship. Are we connected to Christ? Remember, just like a sunflower, it is not how tall you grow, but that you remain connected.

For More See JOHN or DISCIPLESHIP

God's Priorities

9/8/2024

1 Timothy 2:1-15
Priorities, we all have them and live by them. This summer I have had a front row seat to priorities being played out in my garden. This is the first year for the garden and the plants were off to a late start because of cool rainy weather and not getting seeds in the ground sooner. Well, all that has turned around with a little fertilizer, water and lots of sunshine. We now have terrific tomatoes, lovely lettuce, bountiful beans, perfect peas and supersize sunflowers. Yes, I said that correctly… SUPERSIZE! To be exact they are all over ten feet tall and one is sixteen and a half feet tall with over 24 decorative blooms reaching toward the sky. That sunflower has had one priority, growing as large as it could in order to display God’s grand design and order. In 1 Timothy 2 Paul guides Timothy to give specific instructions that will challenge and change the church. First, Timothy is to challenge the men to be holy and prayerful not argumentative (1-8). Secondly, Timothy is to challenge the women to a life of holy service that honors God (9-15). In this chapter, Paul makes general observations about humanity that are still true today. Men seek to draw attention to themselves through their arguments & conquest. Women seek to draw attention to themselves through their adornment & clothing. As believers in Jesus Christ we are to pursue Christ and by His strength model our lives after His perfect example. Today, it is so easy to seek out opportunities to promote ourselves and supersize our lives. Men and women, we have all been called to live holy lives turning away from our self centered tendencies, desires and self promotion. By faith we are called to lives that display our Savior’s grace, sacrifice, love and service. May God transform us and grant us the strength to graciously prioritize being winsome and holy imitators of Him.

For More See 1 TIMOTHY

Service: What Must I Do?

3/10/2024

Matthew 26:6-16
The other day my yard was invaded by a bunch of kids, and I enjoyed every minute of it. We started with games like tug of war, and ended with a big fire. The definition of a fire is a spark that ignites oxygen and fuel. On a cold day the warmth of a fire is nice. But, have you noticed that a fire on a warm day also draws you in? Why? What is it about a fire that attracts us? The movement of the flame is intriguing; the light from the flame is illuminating; the warmth of the flame is inviting. Is that not also true about Jesus? What He does in our world is intriguing. The truth of His words illuminate the darkness of our lives, and His presence invites us into the warmth of a relationship with Him. Like a fire we see that Mary was repeatedly drawn into a relationship with Jesus her Savior. She sat at Jesus feet, listening to Jesus, while Martha made the meal (Luke 10:38-42). She bowed down at Jesus feet, grieving the death of her brother Lazarus (John 11:28-32). Now, at the meal with the disciples, she worships at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). Mary willingly gave her most valued possession in service to Christ. She had a passion to be with, to worship and to serve Jesus, her Savior. In much the same way our love and worship for Jesus should fill the air around us like Mary’s perfume. Do we have that same passion to be with Jesus and sit at His feet and serve Him? We can sit at Jesus feet by spending time listening to His word, responding in prayer and doing what honors Him. Mary’s love for Jesus, and faith in Him, filled the room. Like a fire, may our faith in our Savior draw others into the warmth of His love for them.

Fore more see MATTHEW or EASTER

What is Prayer?

2/4/2024

Luke 11:1-13
When we think of prayer I believe that we often have three basic responses. First is the emergency prayer. This is treating God like the emergency room in a hospital or calling 911. We only pray in an emergency and about emergencies in our life. The second type of prayer is the memorized prayer. This is the bed time prayer that we might have been taught that is said every night or a repetition of the Lord’s prayer. This is simply a memorized prayer just moves through the words that are always said without seeking a real connection with God. This leads us to the third type of prayer and that is the relational prayer. This type of prayer is where the communication is open, honest and thoughtful. This is what Jesus wanted to teach His disciples about prayer. As we look at what is known as the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11 notice that the disciples asked to be taught how to pray (1). That opening statement is important because what follows is clearly an example of how to pray not what to pray, as in just repeating the words. In teaching the disciples how to pray Jesus noted that prayer is relational (1-2) and practices dependence (3-4), persistence (5-8), confidence (9-10) and faith (11-13). So, let us pray using what Jesus taught… Father, we come today declaring our relationship with you as the one who rules our life. We depend on you for all things because we believe that you are reliable. Help us to persist in prayer because we know that you care. Strengthen our faith to declare in confidence that you are in control even when we may not see what you are doing. Thank you, for displaying to us your consistent goodness. Thank you for guiding us by your Spirit in all things because you desire a continual relationship with us. We have all that we need in you because of what Jesus has done on the cross for us, amen.

For more see LUKE or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS or PRAYER

Faith Over the Impossible

12/12/2023

Luke 1:67-80
The unbelieving priest. That sounds like something that is completely opposite of what it is supposed to be. Zechariah was the religious leader who was to lead the nation in the worship of God, yet his belief faltered. Why? In Luke 1:5-25 God sent an angel to tell Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son. Up to this point they were childless. From the text we understand that their inability to have children had been a matter of prayer. So when the angel announced that their prayer had been answered, Zechariah’s faith wavered. He wanted to know how they could have a child since they were old. All Zechariah could see was the human physical impossibility and not faith in the all powerful God despite the seeming impossibility. Have you ever been there? You know, the situation that you have prayed about and nothing changes. We may start out believing but when the answers do not come we easily move from discouragement to disillusionment and perhaps even distance from God. Remember, just because God does not provide the answer in our timeframe, does not mean that God is not at work or capable to work. Zechariah seemed to allow the dark cloud of despair to distort his view of God and doubt His word. Because of his unbelief the angel Gabriel pronounced God’s judgment on Zechariah. He would be silent, unable to speak until the birth of his son (Luke 1:20). Following later in the chapter Luke records that people had to use gestures to communicate with Zechariah (61-63) leading us to believe that he was deaf and mute. Imagine, at least nine months in the solitary confinement of your own thoughts. It seems that God used that time to do His work in old Zechariah’s heart, because the first words out of his mouth were praise to God (68). The life of Zechariah reminds us that we must live by faith believing that God is at work to save us from our sin and self centered pity and trust Him. If you find yourself in the doldrums of despair try praising God for His past and present work. It will change your focus and reignite your faith.

For more see LUKE or SONGS OF CHRISTMAS

Why Pray?

1/29/2023

Luke 18:1-8
You hear the screaming child before you see them. You know, the one in the store in the next isle over that throws a temper tantrum because a wise parent just told them, “No.” There was the certain type of food or specific treat that was just refused and the result is a vocal show complete with flailing arms. The child has gone completely out of control screaming for what they desperately think they need. We groan when we see that play out, but do we not do the same thing with God at times? We think we know what is best and exactly what we need, so we proceed to tell God what He must do for us. Our request turns to a loud demand and then to a scream and God refuses to answer. James 4:3 states that we do not receive from God because we ask with wrong motives. Instead, our prayer should be like the woman in Luke 18:1-8 who persistently asked the judge to do what is right. Her persistence is faith in action. But, what keeps us from prayer and seeking God’s righteousness in our life and our world? The main issue is a lack of faith that displays itself through our response to pain, problems, and pride. When we are in pain we incorrectly think that God is distant and does not hear. When we face problems we attempt our solutions rather than His, because in pride we say that we do not need God. At times we simply do not pray because we do not believe that God hears or is powerful enough to work. Prayer is our communication of faith to our loving heavenly Father who is able to work. God sees, knows, has the solution, and is able to work. Will we let Him? Will we pray?

For more see LUKE or DISCIPLESHIP

Priority of Prayer

10/16/2022

James 5:13-20
Have you ever had someone stop and pray for you? It is amazing how that moment in time can change your perspective regarding the difficult life situation at hand. This week I had someone stop and pray for me, and it encouraged me to pause and trust God yet again for the difficulties I was facing. On the other hand, over the course of this week, I have had the chance to pray with and for others involved in various situations. I realized that I was incapable of bringing a solution to the situation, but by faith I trusted God to work His solution. In these verses, James wants his audience to pray to God about their personal situations (13). However, we as people often do everything else and talk to everyone else but God. James challenges his audience to call others to pray over them when they have been spiritually weakened and have lost faith in God (14-16). He wants his audience to see that faith in God in impossible situations is possible. James illustrates this by giving the example of Elijah as one who prayed and saw God respond (17-18). As James closes the book, he provides an encouragement and challenge to rescue and restore those who have wandered from their faith in Christ (19-20). Today we can still display the reality of our faith by praying in the good and bad times. We can encourage the faith of others who have become weak by praying for them and we can share the burden of restoring the faith of others. Our faith is strengthened when we pray because we practice our belief in God by calling out to Him regarding the situation. May God help us see the value and necessity of a mature faith that prays. Who are you praying for and who is praying for you?

For more see JAMES

Responding to a World that Lacks Love

2/13/2022

Psalm 94
At one time in life we lived in a warmer climate where there were an abundance of gecko lizards. At night these little guys would crawl across the outside of our windows seeking to snatch a tasty bug as a midnight snack. In the process of moving south we brought with us the two family cats. These two were hunters, and previously they kept our home and the area around the house free from mice. Now the cats had a new prey, gecko lizards. However, God has designed these lizards so it is possible for them to detach their tail in order to escape a predator. Well, like all cats, our two would often play with the critters they caught. On several occasions I watched as the cat wrestled with the new found catch only to realize that the lizard deployed a defense mechanism and they had nothing but a wiggly tail. The cat had a quizzical look on its face as it looked for the lizard without success. Like the cat we can chase after the things that we think are real only to find that they will never satisfy. Psalm 94 records a message highlighting the importance of where we turn for our security and love in the midst of a selfish, violent world that does not show love. What do we do when we are not loved? The Psalmist challenges us to pray (1-7) and seek God’s righteous solution. We can be assured that God knows our situation (8-11). He will never leave us (14) and He will protect us (17). Our response to the troubling influence of evil in our world is to be completely persuaded that God alone is always faithful (18). We should continually speak of God’s truth, greatness and love. Like the cat we must not pursue other lesser things that distract us from God.

For more see PSALMS

What is Prayer?

7/18/2021

Luke 11:1-13
It was moving day and I remember praying. I simply asked God to hold off the rain. I was concerned about carrying wet items into the house, but more concerned about safety and slipping on the angled unloading ramp. I prayed and God answered. Then there was the time when Dad died and I drove through the night asking God, “Why?” God did answer but only partially. Finally, there are the lists of requests that I have made and God has seemingly answered, “No.” I think that often our prayer life is tied to answers that we get. When God answers then we keep praying, but when God does not answer… well the prayers get shorter or nonexistent. In Luke 11:1-13 we see Jesus give instructions on how to pray. When we pray we declare that we depend on God for all things because we firmly believe that He alone is reliable. We come requesting God to provide our daily needs, forgive our sin and keep us from sin (3-4). At times we don’t persist in prayer because we face challenges in life and question if God cares. As Jesus illustrates in verse 5-8, persistence in prayer believes that only God can provide what is needed because He cares. Prayer strengthens our faith in God as we confidently ask His direction, seek His answers and knock on the doors that only He will open (9-10). When we pray asking, seeking and knocking we communicate our belief that God is in control of all things, even when we may not see it. Because God is in control we call on Him in prayer. Finally, in verses 11-13 we can thank God for displaying His goodness by giving us His Spirit to guide us in all things. God desires a continual relationship with us through our prayer with Him.

For more see QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

The Wonderful Word

5/5/2021

Psalm 119:129-136
Is the word of God wonderful to you?

1. The Wonderful Word (129)
   Wonderful means something that is unusual, extraordinary, marvelous
   This is a description of God and His word being beyond the normal human experience.

2. The Wonderful Word Working in Us (129-131)
   Motivates our practice (129)
   Gives the greatest insight (130)
   Meets the deepest needs (131)

3. The Wonderful Word Working Through Us (132-133)
   Provides guidance in prayer (132)
   Provides guidance in life (133)

4. The Wonderful Word with Us (134-135)
   God Delivers (134)
   God's Approval (135)

5. The Wonderful Word Moves Us (136)
   Compassion
   Character
   Conduct

For more see PSALM 119

Problems? Try Refreshing

4/25/2021

Philemon 4-7
Computers are great but they can run into communication and connection problems which causes you not to see everything that is available. That is when the refresh option comes into play. This simple feature takes all of the old information and requests new information. After a few moments the newest version of the information is sent and you can now access all the fresh, new items. The refresh option takes the old, adds a new perspective and gives it new life. In the letter to Philemon we see Paul record a prayer that he is praying for Philemon (4-7). In that prayer Paul notes that he is encouraged to see Philemon displaying Godly love for other believers (7). Philemon has been influential in refreshing others. He literally helped calm their inner emotions. Have you ever had someone step into your life and give you a new perspective that calmed your fears? Apparently Philemon was one who started with the current problems and helped others see their problems from God’s point of view with God’s solutions. His faith (5) naturally caused him to display God’s love and refresh others through God’s love with hope and a new Godly perspective. May God help us be ones who refresh those around us, just like Philemon.

For more see PHILEMON

Prayer - When is enough?

4/11/2021

Ephesians 3:14-21
“Tell me when is enough?” At times we use this phrase to tell someone to stop. I remember times filling my brothers water glass that he was holding and saying, “Tell me when.” As the glass filled and neared the top he would say, “Stop” or “That’s enough.” However, I kept pouring because he did not use the word “when.” My brother would begin to panic and yell louder to stop, but I calmly kept pouring. Finally he would remember and holler “WHEN!” We would laugh and watch as he had to clean up the mess. To be partially full or totally full is one thing, but to be completely filled and overflowing is totally different. In Ephesians 3:19 Paul prays for the church to “be filled up to all the fullness of God.” This complete overflowing fullness is the result of a strong inner faith in God (16-17) and a deep growing understanding of Christ’s love (17-18). Like the Ephesian church we can only experience the fullness of a relationship with God when we believe God by faith and know that we are completely loved by Jesus Christ. God is pouring out His love into your life through Jesus Christ. Don’t tell Him to stop. Instead let Him full you to overflowing.

For more see EPHESIANS

Prayer for Transforming Knowledge

3/14/2021

Ephesians 1:15-23
After a long, dark, cold winter many people in the north often find themselves infected with Cabin Fever or Seasonal Affective Disorder. These two do not sound like real diseases but they affect many in the population. Each year numbers of people come down with the symptoms of irritability and depression which are the result of hours in a dark house isolated from the world. The cures are fairly simple… get outside and do something or at least turn on all the lights inside and use bright colors to decorate. Likewise, in Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays that the church will know about God and translate that into a deep relationship with God. He first praises them (15-16), then secondly he tells them what he is praying for them (17-23). He wants them to have the perspective of Godly hope, the value of Godly riches and the power of God’s strength. Paul prays that they will understand what they already have in Christ and that they would implement this knowledge in their life. Like the simple cures for the mid winter blues, Paul provides encouragement and prayer for others who need it. Like the Ephesian church, we also need the encouragement and prayer of others to motivate our spiritual growth. Who is praying for you? Who are you praying for?

For more see EPHESIANS

Responsible Action of Faith Based Hope & Love

3/7/2021

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
How thankful are you? If we think of Thanksgiving we often view it as a time to give thanks for what God has provided. For most of us, most of the time, we are thankful for all the good things in life. We are thankful for the inventions that make life easier, for family, health and food plus many other nice things, but, what about the bad events, the loss of dreams, health or family? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to be thankful in all things. True thankfulness finds its satisfaction in the fact that God knows everything and that God will work His perfect will based on His perfect love. A perfect example of this is the death of Jesus to pay for sin. The darkness of His death brought the light of hope through the salvation that God now offered through Jesus. Let us live a life of hope in Christ regardless of circumstances. Let us be truly joyful, always praying and completely thankful. Our thanks will draw us to praise God and our prayer will cause us to see even more things to thank God for. So, let us give thanks in all things as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 states, because thankfulness shows acceptance of God’s will even if it is not understood. Our thanks is an expression of faith and hope in God, regardless of the situation that we face.

For more see also 1 Thessalonians

Praying for Grace

10/4/2020

Jonah 2
A number of years ago I had an old cell phone, the kind with a button for each number. The problem with the phone was that it was easy to bump it and make an unintended call. When I was working it had a tendency, for what ever reason, to dial 911. I recall a number of times while at work that my phone would ring and the 911 operator would ask me if I had an emergency. Embarrassed, I was forced to apologize for a bumping the phone. The 911 emergency system was not designed to handle unintentional pocket calls. However, prayer is designed to be a regular conversation with God. In Jonah chapter 1 we see Jonah not praying while the terrified sailors pray. Jonah calls out to God in distress and prays after he is swallowed by the fish (Jonah 2:2). God still heard his cry even though he was miles from where God wanted him to be. In his prayer Jonah recognized his sin and separation from God. In His grace, God hears Jonah’s humble cry from the belly of the fish and causes the fish vomit Jonah back on to dry land. As people we easily come to the point of believing that our sin permanently separates us from God and we refuse to call out to Him in prayer. In Jonah chapter 2 we see God listen to His wandering servant Jonah and show His grace. Like a 911 call, God still responds instantly and shows His grace yet again.

For more see JONAH

Dispute Resolution

9/21/2020

What do you do if a misunderstanding escalates into a full blown dispute? Something was said or done quite innocently or even unknowingly and it seems like gasoline was just thrown on a fire. There was a huge explosion and now nothing is the same with pieces of a relationship blown up and scattered all over the place. Where do you begin as you try and patch these broken relationship pieces back together? There are a number of helpful tips that we find in the pages of Scripture. The following are offered as tools to use in the midst of a dispute.

First, try using a mediator. Some cultures find this to be very valuable in avoiding the shame of face to face conflict. A mediator is a wise person that is called in an attempt to reconcile two parties who are in the midst of a conflict. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and sinful humankind (1 Timothy 2:5). We need to model our lives after Christ and be that peace making party. If we are personally involved in an unresolved conflict it is always a good idea to call in a wise elder for counsel and help. They can speak with the wisdom of age and the wisdom of an outside perspective. Ultimately we need to use Christ as our mediator and pray about the situation, our involvement, the other party and ask God to help bring a resolution that would honor Him.

Next, we need to watch out for words of gossip and attitudes that seek to destroy the other person. Gossip is simply uncontrolled conversation that is not true. By using gossip we ultimately seek to tear the other person down and make ourselves look better. Gossip pridefully betrays a confidence (Proverbs 11:3 & 20:19). When we gossip it makes the problem worse (Proverbs 26:20) by spreading it to the larger community and involving others. Gossip in many ways is like a mold that grows on a piece of food. It will continue to destroy what is good unless it is cut off and removed. We need to correct our attitudes of pride that lead to gossip because others and God will see it for the sinful contamination that it truly is.

The third tool is to pray. We often think that prayer is just our conversation with God about us, but God desires that it be so much more. Have you prayed for your enemy, the one you are in conflict with? Romans 12:12 challenges us to be persistent in prayer even for our enemies. Jesus said that we are to love our enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:44-45). In some ways, this is the easiest solution and yet it is the most difficult. Why? Well, there is part of us that thinks we are better than the enemy and we portray that to God when we pray. We want God to destroy the enemy rather than see them restored. We need God’s perspective and that can be gained through prayer.

Fourth, we need to act righteously toward our enemy. In Romans 12, Paul challenges his audience and even us today with three practical steps. The first thing he says highlights our sense of justice for being wronged. Paul says that we should not try and correct the injustice by turning around and acting unjustly (Romans 12:17). Our attitude and consistent desire should be one that constantly seeks to live in peace with others (Romans 12:18). Finally, Paul emphasizes the value of acting in a way that is contrary to conflict (Romans 12:20). When we can show grace and give to an enemy what is not deserved that is when we have truly understood God’s grace that He has shown to us.

May God give us the courage and the grace to be problem solvers not problem creators.

For more see CONFLICT RESOLUTION