Saturday, March 27 – Day 39

Seeking His Peace Among All Peoples

Seek God…for Christ’s Lordship to be welcomed by the nations

Seek God On Behalf Elderly People

The prayer walking suggestion for today is to pray at a retirement community or an extended care facility.

I may be going out of a limb here a little, but “elderly” is sometimes a perception. When I was 20 I thought 60 was really old. Come to think of it, when I was 43 I had no idea that I would be able to do the things I am now doing. Amazing! Perception! Now, I’m almost 64 and it doesn’t seem old at all….well, most days anyway.

Where am I going with this? The label ‘retirement community’ does not necessarily mean a lack of ability or a sound mind or a lack of willingness to be involved; nor should it.

At our combined annual meeting for the Mission America Coalition and CityReachers we were all challenged by a ‘young man’ in his mid-twenties. The moderator was thanking this ‘young man’ for being with the 250 of us, asking God for more young men and women to join us (kind of carrying on about us being, well, ‘old.’) when the young man was asked to share with all of us his thoughts on the week.

He challenged us to stop thinking as though we were about to become useless! Wasn’t Caleb over 80 when he took the high country?! Wasn’t this person over 70 when he….?! Wasn’t this person…??? He continued with sentences like “we all need each other…” I say like as I really can’t tell you what he said but I can tell you the impression it made on me.

The Holy Spirit brought scriptures to me like “he who endures to the end.” I am often tired of the battle, struggle, fight, and warfare (all scriptural words). I don’t think 64 but most often my daily capacity to work betrays my chronological age and the 37 years of enduring and fighting the good fight. However, we who are over 60 or 70 or 80 have an important part in this fight!

We are closer to the return of Christ that we all know. As we prepare to celebrate Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and RESURRECTION DAY, Easter, I have an idea for us all.

Let’s take the high country!

Brother Charles

Serve The City

Thursday, March 25 – Day 37

Seeking His Peace Among All Peoples
Seek God…to calm the storm of war.
Seek God On Behalf Of The Military

“A Centurion” mentioned in today’s passage from Matthew reminds me of the “The Centurion” mentioned (Matthew 27) who stood at the foot of the cross. After seeing the manner in which Christ died was the first to say “Truly this was the Son of God.” Today we pray for the 500,000 plus/minus of our soldiers plus family members that are deployed in 120 nations. Nations that we have been praying for over these 40 days.

What if…revival continued to grow in our military?
What if indeed.

As Iowa prepares to send the largest deployment of our National Guard soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan over the summer, we have a practical way of demonstrating the love of Christ to them. We are providing a 9-hour workshop Making Your Marriage Deployment Ready on April 16^th and 17^th. If you know of someone that is married and will possibly be deployed this year, encourage them to attend this amazing workshop.

For $20 per couple they receive two manuals, a commemorative coin, free childcare, Friday night dessert, and a hearty lunch on Saturday! Catch all the details at www.servethecity.org on the events page!

Brother Charles
Serve The City

Wednesday, March 21 – Day 36

Seeking His Peace Among All Peoples

Seek God…for enemies to be blessed

“As enemies nailed you to a cross, You cried out for God to forgive them.” (See Luke 23:34)

This is the first line of today’s NT prayer; it merits a more in-depth look:

Here’s the setting.

The Jews…

…had arrested Him illegally, mocked Him, spit on him, beat on Him with their fists, slapped Him and certainly did other things that are not recorded.

The Romans…

…spit on Him, scourged Him (used a whip to pull pieces of flesh from His back, mocked Him in as a “king”, push a crown of thorns on His head, force Him to carry His cross until He physically can’t, and nail His hands and feet to the cross.

Everyone…

…including the two thieves on His left and right continue to mock, taunt, and insult Him.

He remains…..silent.

Finally He speaks: “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

We see in Hebrews this statement: “Jesus for the joy set before Him, endured the cross…”

In this passage endured is understood as “staying in the place of a servant” “remaining under to support.” The One who came to serve and not to be served, stayed in the place of a servant to the very end.

The results…

One thief repents and is guaranteed to be with Jesus that very day in Paradise, the Centurion believes, the sky was dark from noon to 3 p.m., the rocks split open, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom…plus more…wow!

Years ago, I dismissed this act ‘as only something God in man could do…nice part of the story, no application to me. THEN, I read how Stephen (Acts 7:59) said the same forgiveness when he was being stoned to death…..Stephen, a man just like me. I was without excuse.

Conclusion? We can do this through Christ who to gives us the strength to do so!

Brother Charles

Serve The City

Friday, March 12 – Day 24

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God….that many would know and follow Him

Look how the whole world has gone after Him! John 12:19 (NIV)

I have been observing the messages that have been coming forth from the Christian Community in these days.

I recently heard George Otis Jr. speak about his studies of individuals and communities that have experienced transformational revival. He told us that the transformational revival is extraordinary, beyond routine, supernatural intervention beyond missional objectives. It is not confined to individuals or the church but is in every sphere of the community. Even the toxic earth and eco systems become instantly healed in transformational revivals.

Otis said that the transformational revival does not flow out of a burden for a dysfunctional community but rather it is a pleasant by-product of believers seeking God’s intimate companionship.

It comes when Believers want God for Himself not for what He can do.

The common thread among many speakers and authors today is that we must seek God first. As we seek Him and have fellowship with Him we will come to see “how the whole world has gone after Him.” It is only thru the intimate relationship of seeking God’s face will we be able to find what we are truly looking for in these days. The Church is very good at doing, now we need to work on being- being the bride of Christ and reflecting His glory.

Our prayer request---

Holy Spirit speak to our hearts so the we will seek and know Jesus.

PD
Serve The City

Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.

I appreciate today’s reading about light. In Sunday School one day I gave our youth group black duct tape and – after turning off the lights—I told them to try to cover every bit of light in the room. They diligently covered the cracks around the doors, the LED lights on the sound system, the illuminated exit signs (don’t tell the fire marshal!), etc. until everything was completely dark. Once our eyes adjusted we were in total awe of how very dark it was. Suddenly someone’s cell phone lit up and we were all stunned at how much one little phone lit up a very large room.

This shows why light is the perfect metaphor for the Christian life. Darkness never creeps into a lighted place—it has no power to do so. Only light can creep in. It overcomes the darkness. Just a tiny amount of light penetrates and makes a difference.

Today’s NT verse, John 8:12 reminds us that in Christ’s light we don’t have to walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. That should keep us from stumbling around. Let’s spread that light around so others can join us in the abundant life!

Mark Forstrom
New Covenant Bible

Thursday, March 4 – Day 16

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God....to rescue people from spiritual darkness

It occurred to me that those in greatest need of release from their bondage are those who are blinded to that bondage. They think they are okay and that others are trapped in barren life styles. The Word clearly shows that unless we are slaves to righteousness we are slaves, prisoners, to sin. My prayer is that those in darkness would have the light of truth penetrate their lives through us. I pray that our lives would mirror the freedom of Christ, freedom from guilt, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, covetousness, and unbelief. I pray that our lives would visibly show kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, peace, patience, joy and love – independent of the environment we find ourselves in so that they may see hope and lives changed to the glory of God. I pray that the hardness of their hearts might be broken and made ready for the seed of the Word of God to penetrate deep and bring forth life.

J. O.
Valley View

Wednesday, March 3 – Day 15

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God for the city… for revelation leading to repentance

“For those who have heard about You but remain stone-cold to You… Vindicate Your reputation by disclosing Your mighty mercy… that their stony hearts melt in view of how determined You are to love them. Cause them to behold Jesus…”

Encountering the “stone-cold” is a challenging experience in the life of a believer. Alive with the fire and passion given to us by Christ, it is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes maddening to witness others walking in firm rejection of God. If you are like me, you may approach the hard-hearted like a special project. If we just have the right words, the right program, the right strategy, we can break through and “win one for Jesus.”

Facing an apparent failure to break through, sometimes we turn defensive. These “rejecters of God” become the enemy. We may give them several labels… secular humanists, faces of the culture of death, nazi-feminists, godless liberals… I think sometimes we hide behind the labels and battle lines out of fear of what it would cost us to be the Church who reveals the God who is determined to love the stone-cold.

Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Let us have a fresh perspective today of seeing the stone-cold not as enemies whom we need to organize against but as an incredible testimony that God is writing. Let us approach those who would oppose or slander the work of the Kingdom determined to love them. May our approach to vindicating God’s reputation not be in our protests, our petitions, or our carefully crafted talking points but in disclosing the mighty mercy of the Father through radical love. My prayer is that as we collectively love them, in us they would behold Jesus.

Katie Sandquist
Aid to Women

Tuesday, February 23 – Day 7

Seeking His Life to Revive the Church
Seek God....for Christ's resurrection power

Seek God on behalf of Marriages

When I think about marriage - I specifically think of my marriage - I waited a long time to get married - I wanted it so bad - but never thought I was good enough. I was 32 years old when I met my husband and we didn't get married until I was 34 years old. I remember Christmas of 2003. I couldn't wait to open my Christmas present from him - it was a ring - but not an engagement ring - I was crushed. I knew that the reason my "boyfriend" was dating me was because I professed to be a Christian, so I continued to watch my Christian friends that have had successful marriages and asked them what I should do - their answer was simple – “keep the relationship focused on Christ.” That next Thanksgiving I was engaged and married on Christmas Eve.

Five years later – I couldn’t love my husband more – and as we continue to follow that advice to keep Jesus at the center of our relationship, I also pray for so many relationships that aren’t centered on Christ, and end. It saddens my heart to hear of adultery, domestic abuse, and divorce when I know God has so much more for us. So in my prayer time – I am seeking God on behalf of all marriages, (like my parents who have been married for 44 years, and a couple at church married 55+ years and the couples that are planning their marriages for this year –that they all focus on Christ).

Lord my prayer for your resurrection power is that you would be with struggling couples and that you would place your hand on them and help all of us to resurrect our marriages, make all of them stronger (even those that appear to be strong). Help us to re-listen to the vows we made when we said I do. “Until DEATH do us part.”

God Bless you all!
S.H.

Thursday, February 18 - Day 2

I think the word ‘love’ is overused and has been watered down in today’s culture.  With Valentine’s Day just past, we see how ‘love’ is marketed and commercialized.  The tagline for a truck commercial several years ago stated America ‘loves’ baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolets.  So, to find the true meaning of love, we have to turn to the source: God.  God is love.  Love in the Bible has a much richer meaning, particularly when applied to God's feeling toward His people.  The Bible describes a kind of love that goes far beyond what we can even grasp as humans.  It is abundant, faithful, steadfast, patient and unfailing.  Read these passages out loud and listen to God’s heart.

The LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield.  Psalm 33:18, 20

"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."  Jeremiah 31:1

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD . So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!  Psalm 32:10-11

The Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.  John 1:14

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's judgment.  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God -- all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

Today, I hope you seek the love that only God can provide.  May you be revived, restored and refreshed by His Spirit.

God bless,

Brent Schulte, Antioch Christian Church