GOOD NEWS FOR GOD’S MEN

May 20, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Psalm 78.57

“Like their fathers before them they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

The more things change the more they stay the same. It seems Solomon was correct in his wise assessment of the world and life in it- nothing really changes and it is mostly foolishness. When we go off in our own directions, as if we have the full knowledge of what we want to do and will do, the road we travel is rarely the one less travelled (as Scott Peck illustrated.) The blindness is in our own perception of what we are doing. We carelessly think that we are being original and that we are infallible. Nothing could be further from the truth. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. As David looked back into the history of his people and heard their stories repeated as a part of worship he must have sat there shaking his head in disbelief. No matter what they did, the result was generally the same- failure and faithlessness which led to destruction, death and desolation. Why doesn’t faithfulness look original instead of unobtainable? Why does righteousness look advantageous instead of impossible? When God is the opportunity why are we not knocking on His door to receive the full advantage of the abundant blessings He desires to honor us with? Instead, we lessen what it means to be human (God’s crowning creation) to mean “sin’s dog.” But, that would be a disservice even to dogs because no matter how poorly they are treated they remain loyal more often than not. Their nature changes into cowering submission, the victim mentality, but they remain loyal to their master and many would die to save their lives if needed. The world has turned being human into slavery and the wiles of a sinful world is their master. David says “they become as unreliable as a faulty bow.”

1) Unable to hit the mark (the consequence of sin’s faulty vision and poor aim)
2) Unable to “sing” harmoniously (the twang of a faulty bow or one pulled improperly will alert the enemy or the prey that they arrow is launched)
3) Unable to hold its strength (the bow becomes an energy consumer instead of multiplier)

As God’s mighty men we must stay focused to meet the mark of righteousness, sing in harmony so that the truth of the gospel is clear and remain strong in the spirit capturing the Spirit’s power for our hearts and mind.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For those rocked in Northern Italy by a strong earthquake
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Seychelles
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear and freedom from strepthroat

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Strength of mind to strategize the final three weeks of school successfully
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, Your aim is true and righteous. Strike us to the heart and soul of who we are so that we may be mighty warriors of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

May 19, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Galatians 3.5

“Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the Law or because you believe what you have heard [the gospel of Christ crucified]?”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

It is by faith that we have come to know the full message of the Gospel. It is a gift of God from God for God’s people that the mighty men of God know the depth of love for life. It is not because of anything we have done except to accept the message of salvation as our own and to put it into action that we have the strength and courage we do in times like these. What times are these? These are troubled times when the wiles of men are seeking to reinterpret the truth about God’s purpose and intentions in this world. We walk in the delicate balance between affirming love on the one hand which saves all sinners and is known in those sinners who confess that Jesus is Lord and the wisdom to know what is sin so that more can confess it and share in the joy of their salvation. It is not by a prescription obedience that God has worked this salvation in our lives. Nor is it a conditional love with which God loves us. He loves us as much as His children of faith as He did when we were yet lost in our sin. Yet, if we do not have an authentic love of God in our lives which knows beyond the meeting of rules and regulations (save the two Great Commandments) that Jesus is Lord then we are truly limited in our affect for the sake of the Gospel and for the glory of God. Salvation cannot be worn as a checklist of what we have done or did not do. Salvation must live in our hearts to say that God is love and has so loved us that we are now able to live the life for which we were created. This is the good news for God’s mighty men that must be shared with the world. In the struggling for that authentic life, it cannot be reached by the imaginings and explanations of man. It is through Jesus Christ alone that we have life and have it abundant. He is the “law” of life because He is the “life” of the law and the life of the law is faith, hope and love.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Serbia
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear and freedom from strepthroat

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Strength of mind to strategize the final three weeks of score successfully
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, as Your Word grows in us may we grow in Your Word until we reach the full measure and stature of Your son as we have found in Christ, Your Only Begotten Son. AMEN.

May 18, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Isaiah 11.3b-4a

“He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide what what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

How our Lord is so different from the world and thank God for it. Men of the world judge more with appearances and the testimony of men. Jesus judges with spiritual insight and the depth of His heart. He knows that we are sinners and bound with a curse whose sentence is eternal dying apart from the glory of God. Yet, He sees beyond the sin and He hears the pleas of those who are in need of faith, hope and love. His measure of our lives is perfect and His mercy is without question. Because of Him we have life and have it abundantly. I think abundance here means that we are restored to goodness and given the opportunity to prosper and live as we were intended to live. We were created to be productive leaders, providers and proclaimers of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus has shown us how it is in Heaven by giving us the glimpse of that right relationship which exists between God and His creation. So, we as mighty men need to be different from the world. We are to not only follow Christ but become like Him so that His ways become our ways and His thoughts become our thoughts. If we look at the world as Jesus does then we will see the opportunities to glorify God instead of bemoan the consequences of sin.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Senegal
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear and freedom from strepthroat

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Sinus infection is over
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, open our eyes to see Your truth. Open our ears so we can hear the leading of Your Spirit. Open our minds so we can know Your wisdom. Open today’s door so we can seize the opportunity to do Your Will. AMEN.

May 17, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Romans 3.3, 4a

“What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

Regardless of our condition, God never changes. His mercy endures forever and His justice is perfect. Just because someone does not believe in God does not mean that God ceases to be God nor that God ceases to believe in that person. Quite the opposite is true. Toward that person, God has sent His own Son so that eyes may see and ears may hear the truth of faith, hope and love. He becomes “very God of very God.” In fact, God so believes in that person that He sent His Only Begotten Son so that His sin would be forgiven and his life redeemed. Does that mean that person will come to faith? It is no guarantee. We know that even in the last days there will be those who refuse to accept Jesus as the Christ and their fate is sealed with Satan and his dark angels. It is a tragedy that has not yet happened. So it is imperative that God’s mighty men press forward in faith and faithfulness to proclaim the Living Word of the Living God to every man, woman and child so that those who will have faith as their own can. Let them be aware of their salvation and claim it as their own to enjoy the faithfulness of God which endures to all generations.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* Blessing our schools and staffs for another year in the classroom working to bring education
alive in the lives of our children
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Saudi Arabia
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear and freedom from strepthroat

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Sister Gayle is celebrating successful back surgery
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, without Your faithfulness we would be as nothing. May the gift of faith that is in each mighty man of Yours be opened to the world and shared in power so that many will say today “Jesus is Lord.” AMEN.

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Acts 19.11

“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

Let us not make any mistake about this verse. It was not Paul who made the miracle nor was it the artifacts that had the power to bring healing to the sick and liberation to the demon-possessed. It was God. Only by the power of God can these healings and liberations actually come about. The fact that He chose Paul, and others, to be the vehicle through which that awesome spiritual power was effected is an encouragement to the mighty men of God. Why? God chooses you to be a ministering servant in the same way. You can bring healing and liberation every day to the life of someone in need. You may not mend a limb or restore sick to the blind but your encouragement can give them hope and strength to make their own steps to meeting God. You may not see demons flying out of someone’s life but through encouragement you may see someone be freed from drugs, alcohol or sexual addiction. Some of you may actually possess the gift of healing and do wonderful ministries that change the life of someone or many forever. But, no matter how the healing or liberation happens it occurs because of two things: God’s love to heal and our faith to be healed. We can see this in the fact that the people believed that even handkerchiefs and aprons which touched Paul had these healing properties. It is the same as the woman who reached to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe believing by faith she would be blessed with healing and it flowed from Him to her which He acknowledged. But, as Jesus said, “It is by faith you are healed.” Have faith and believe that God’s love can be so manifested in you and through you that healing flows like the water from melting snow in the summer down the mountain.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* Blessing our schools and staffs for another year in the classroom working to bring education
alive in the lives of our children
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Sao Tome and Principe
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Sister Gayle will celebrate successful back surgery
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, may Your love and mercy be in such abundance today that healing is unavoidable. AMEN.

May 15, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

1 Corinthians 10.31

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

Except sin! Do not sin and think that you are doing it for the glory of God. Sin is about self and thrives in the denial of God’s providence, design and grace in your life. Do not be convinced that you have the power over sin. No one save Jesus Christ alone has the power over sin in this world. The love of Jesus Christ saves us from the ravages of sin when we commit our lives to Him and seek to follow the example of His teachings with God-glorifying words and works. It is by faith alone that we best understand our salvation and by faith alone that we can live through the shades and shadows of sin to dwell in the light of God’s mercy and grace. Even He who was without sin but bore the sins of the world upon His shoulders on the cross experienced the awful reality of death and found it too much to bear alone. As if Satan himself was seeking to hold Him down each time Jesus lifted Himself up in His crucified state to speak of God’s love and forgiveness, death strangled His humanity but could not contain His divinity. It is for this reason that God’s mighty men should seek to live fully for God in light of the Son. Death is an inevitability in life but living is an inevitability in Christ. Therefore guard your words and actions with faith so that the glory of God may be made visible and His grace abound.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* Blessing our schools and staffs for another year in the classroom working to bring education
alive in the lives of our children
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of San Marino
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Testing is almost done!
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, we know that we shall stumble and fall in life for we are not perfect but being perfected. Give the Word and we shall be lifted up to bear witness of Your mercy and grace so that others can come to know Your Son as their Savior along with us and all Heaven. AMEN.

May 14, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Matthew 17.23-24

“Men will tell you ‘There He is!’ or ‘Here He is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

As mighty men of God, we are to reflect the glory of God in our words and works. Our lives are to be a continual testimony to assure the rest of the world that God is real. We are to share the story of Jesus’ first coming into the world. In that day, it was necessary for men like the disciples to go and direct others to come and see Jesus. His own works and words reflected the glory of God as His continual testimony that God is real. But, when Jesus returns there will be no need for us to redirect the eyes of others to see Jesus. His appearance will be global and unmistakable to the faithful eye. Many will see and believe while many will see and have their faith affirmed. Yet, many will see and not believe while many more will have their lack of faith as a shield that cannot protect them from the truth. Continue to take up the good cause. We have no need to run around saying “Here is Jesus!” or “There is Jesus!” because He is not here or there. He is alive in each mighty man of God by the power of the Holy Spirit waiting to be shared with others so they too can have a personal spiritual relationship with Christ. But, the day is coming when we will not need to shout directions and He will be here making Himself known to all the world in spirit and in truth. It will be on that day that the lightning flash will reveal the words and works of every man to see if they have truly revealed the glory of God.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Samoa
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* A peaceful weekend all weekend
* A wonderful wife, mother and friend
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, be alive in these mighty men of Yours. May their words and works today reflect the glory of Your love and the excellence of Your faithfulness to all generations. AMEN.

May 13, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Romans 15.30

“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggles by praying to God for me.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

One of the greatest ways we can support those who provide those much needed mothering ministries is to join with them in prayer. We can give cards and flowers or take them out to eat but nothing can surpass the power of prayer in a voice they can hear. Prayer speaks from our heart to the heart of God the truth in our lives and our sincere intentions. The ministry of mothering is far from easy. From the initial burden added to Eve following the fall was that she would know pain in childbirth. That pain became an image of spiritual transition into a new life as well as the approach of the end times. The world in groaning is exactly that image and we certainly should be praying about that because that moment will truly change our lives forever. God will provide for us in those times and He will take care of us so that we will not suffer harm. Pray for those who have loved us as children (and still do.) Pray for those who have loved our children (and still do.) Pray for those who love the children of others when there is no one else to do so (and still do). Yes, pray without ceasing but pray especially today for those women in our lives whose love empowers us as mighty men of God. Give them the best of your prayer effort to and make their heart glad and their joy complete.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For all the mothers in the world who have blessed their families in great and small ways
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Saint Vincent
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* A peaceful weekend all weekend
* A wonderful wife, mother and friend
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, how blessed we are as mighty men of Yours because You have given that special responsibility of nurturing to the mothers of this world. Pour out a special blessing today upon each and every one of them that their joy may be complete in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

May 12, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Proverbs 27.17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

The call to fellowship for God’s mighty men is important. In their talk about life and faith they invoke a level of accountability with each other just as the edge of a blade is made fine against a whetstone. No one person knows all things except for the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. For that reason men must come together to discuss how to improve their lives through the confessing of sins and the profession of God’s truth. Imagine how sharp our lives of faith, hope and love can be when God’s mighty men hold each other accountable in wisdom, truth and service. The image of the double-edged sword which reveals the whole truth, both good and evil, comes into play here. While we are saved by grace sin remains at work in the world. As we associate with other mighty men of God we are more refined in our lives as the impurities of the sin-infected life are worn away, smoothed out and eventually disappear altogether. Seek out the fellowship of God’s mighty men and keep sharp for the day of service and the opportunity to show God’s greater glory.

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Saint Vincent
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* A peaceful weekend all weekend
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, smooth us, refine us and make us sharp as the blessed instrument of Your faith, hope and love. AMEN.

May 11, 2012

HIS WORD FOR TODAY:

Leave no soul unturned in 2012!

Mark 10.15

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

REFLECTING IN HIS WORD:

Mighty men ought to love this verse because it really is right up their alley. We have heard it said “The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.” We love to play. We enjoy recreation (not that women don’t). You have to see the image of children at play who are loving life just because they are alive. (I wish all the children of the world could be seen this way instead of starving, thirsting and dying.) But, it is those rambunctious, wiggly, wriggly, giggly children Jesus could be pointing to when He gives this world to His disciples. The disciples were already rebuking the parents for this intrusion. It was loud, chaotic and gregarious. We can see children not wanting to be held and parents who dared not let them go. We can hear their pleas for freedom while the parents begged for restraint. Frustrations levels could have been high but they were tempered by their soul’s sincerest desire to have Jesus bless them for life. The word was given. Blessing was put upon all those children (and their parents, no doubt) and the children had little knowledge of what was going on except that it was exciting, different and crowded with a lot of adults. Wouldn’t it be grand if Jesus was sharing with His disciples that those who receive His Father’s Kingdom with the innocence of a child just enjoying the moment and not having to do anything for it but to receive as a good and extraordinary gifts actually “get it”? Quite the opposite had to be true and sadly so. Those who turn the Kingdom of God into a systems seminar with a lot of paperwork permission and checklists that would turn anyone dour “just don’t get it,” meaning they don’t truly understand the promised Kingdom blessing and they overlook in its simplicity and joy. I, for one, will be glad to have truly laid down the work ethic of the world in order to pick up the childlike joy ethic of the Kingdom. How about you?

PRAYER CONCERNS (share your needs and others in the comment section so that God’s Mighty Men can join prayer forces as intercessors of faith, hope and love)

* For those who will lead God’s people in worship, praise and service this weekend
* For the future of this nation whose leadership has taken a giant step away its future as a
positive and Christian nation
* For Teal Rapp and his ministry that it will be fully funded by the end of the month to cover the
ministry and his families new living expenses
* For those who are seeking to put an end to human trafficking that their success would be
overwhelming so that the healing may be equally so
* For the violence to stop in Syria and Iraq and the open roads for peace be made so that healing
may begin
* For Israel to have wisdom in deciding to follow God’s leading before military intervention
against Iran
* For protection on Christians around the world and the celebration that all life lived in Christ
will be blessed with life in the Kingdom
* For the cessation of violence in Mexico: as long we allow making drugs to cost anything it
will cost us everything!
* For the mission teams sent out by the Church into all the world that they remain safe as they
intercede and plant the seed of faith, hope and love
* For all our military personnel of the past and present for the service they render and the
sacrifices they have made and are making for the sake of our country and for the benefit of
others around the world
* For Savannah and her 11 month old son Keagan who has lost use of his left side due to a pre-
natal stroke and subsequent seizures
* For Mission Waco, “No Man’s Land” and the people of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
* For strength of mind to regularly workout, eat correctly and lose weight
* For healing for Lisa (heart) and the deliverance of true rest (perchance to dream) and the
silencing of fear

PRAYER CELEBRATIONS (where we see Him at work in the world):

* Students will be successful on upcoming state assessments!
* For His Word on vocational strategy and revelation concerning the future and the infusion of a
positive attitude

ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER:

Father, bless our childlikeness and forgive our childishness so that the joy of Kingdom may truly be known to all those who are willing to receive it just as it is. AMEN.

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