Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 26 – Day 38
Seek God…to gather all peoples in worship
One day all believers in Christ will worship Jesus together. John described this glorious scene, “After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. They were shouting out in a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9–10 NET).
I was able to experience a glimpse of such worship when I was in India earlier this month. I was with fellow Christ-followers who literally had nothing. They were the poorest of the poor. They have nothing in this world but Jesus, and Jesus is enough! I experienced worship with such joy and happiness because of God’s love and grace.
I am so glad that we are beginning to experience such worship in our community. This is happening as Serve The City churches unite together to reach our community for Christ and proclaim the praise of the One who saved us. We are linking arms for the cause of Christ regardless of denominations, traditions or differing cultures.
May we continue to move out of our comfort zones and reach out to every person both locally and globally. May you and I pray for God to break down barriers in our hearts that keep us from unconditionally loving those who are “different” from us. Pray for unity among God’s people that is so obvious that people in our communities take notice. Pray for God to be glorified as we gather together to serve Christ by serving the city.
Bob Westfall
New Covenant Bible Church
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, March 18 – Day 30
Seeking His Righteousness in Our Communities
Seek God for freedom from terror
Bombings, breach of airline security, earthquakes, flooding, and kidnappings-these are just some of the terrors we face in today’s world. If we dwell on the threats of today, we wouldn’t have a moment’s peace. We would just sit around waiting to see what awful thing would happen next.
I was raised on Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” What a promise to us. We do not need to be fearful or concerned about what may come next. He is our God and He’s with us to strengthen and help us.
We can be free from terror because He will protect us. Praise God that He has us in His loving arms, assuring us that we do not have to be afraid.
Thursday, March 18 – Day 30
Seeking His Righteousness in Our Communities
Seeking God….for freedom from terror
Fear is probably the most powerful weapon that the enemy uses against the Body of Christ. If there is any one thing that draws us to Jesus, and there are many, it would have to be the reality of a man who never walked in fear. The Body of Christ needs a fresh daily reminder, that as followers of Jesus, we are not followers of fear.
Jesus’ encouragement to His followers throughout the Gospels is to ‘fear not’, and ‘be not afraid, He then reminds us that, ‘He is with us’, the One who never walks in fear.
Fear disguises itself in so many ways, its goal is to paralyze, and its plan is to keep us from accomplishing The Father’s will. When that happens we become a people who are more consumed with defending the Gospel than we are sharing the Gospel. That is an indication that we are not operating out of righteousness, but rather self-righteousness.
Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 54:14 was speaking of being established in our position of righteousness, and not in the condition of what goes on around us. Even though oppression, fear, and terror may be close to us naturally, it can be far removed from our heart, our mind, and even our emotions.
John said that, ‘perfect love casts out fear’. Every time that we pull back from loving the people that we don’t want to love, it affects how we love the people that we do want to love. Fear then remains a factor in both relationships.
Jesus didn’t come to change us, He came to love us, and as a result of that love we desire to change. Those changes then continue the process of establishing us in the position righteousness that we already have in Christ. Our position is greater than our condition.
Daniel Winn
Pastor,
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 17 – Day 29
Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God….for His Spirit to empower His People
We seek God and behalf of Depressed People
Editors note: this is a long entry – there is really no way to shorten it – and I can guarantee that when you finish reading it, you will agree!.
“We can’t tell them Jesus loves them until we are ready to love them too” is a line from one of the first contemporary Christian songs I heard as a teenager. This one simple line lights fire in me that can cast away the business of life and remind me that our witnessing is done through relationships. You would think with Facebook, Twitter, texting, and e-mail we would be better at relationships, but those can each be just another place for our friends to hide their feelings of worthlessness and depression. Depression is a si
See, I knew a man with a wife and three small children that came to church every Sunday. He was active in the men’s group and even invited his neighbors across the street to attend with his family. He was persistent, and finally his neighbors were saved. He was a witness to his extended family and tried his best at being a husband and father to his young family. But something was wrong. He was feeling more and more down. He quit attending special church functions an
Please, I beg of you to go to a family that you know is dealing with depression and listen, lift them up in prayer, and learn about this disease. We as a church need to be the comfort zone of our families dealing with this depression. In Christ, we can help families deal with this and get them proper help. This is the first time I have said anything publicly about my late husband, but I felt lead to share in hope that others will seek help for their family members and friends. There is HOPE in our risen Savior!
Blessings in Christ,
89.1 The Spirit
Editors Note: Some say that 20 % of the population deals with depression. (The elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.) I applaud
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, March 7 – Day 19
Seek God…for His renown among all the peoples
“…Make known His deeds…” We each have a story to tell. Our lives have been changed by the power of His love. I’m grateful for the people who loved “hell” out of me, who continued to pray and believe for me and speak the truth in love to me when I was stubborn, foolish, selfish and hurting so desperately. Their stories of a real God loving real people and the way they loved me, spoke volumes. They didn’t preach doctrine. They loved me, encouraged me and prayed for me.
Now, I have the privilege of doing the same. What an honor to be a part of what God is doing in other’s lives. That includes the life of Antonio Wheat, one of the men who killed my brother in 1965 during an armed robbery. (They were both 19.) “Tony” loves others well from behind bars, mentoring young men, encouraging them, praying for them. My brother did not die in vain. A seed planted is producing much fruit.
From the place of forgiveness, the Lord prompted me to send Tony a Guidepost subscription this year. I’ve never sent him a gift before. He wrote me a beautiful thank you of how much it means for him to read those encouraging true stories and share them with others. God is good.
Yes, Lord, “stir your people to tell the story of Your glory in their lives.”
Marilyn Schneiderman
New Life Community – Anamosa
Aid To Women – Cedar Rapids
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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, gent
J. O.
Valley View
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 26 – Day 10
Seeking His Life to Revive the Church
Seek God….for God to Unite His People
Recently an elderly woman requested help, from the church body, with moving. She was moving from a second floor apartment (with an elevator) to a third floor apartment without an elevator. Every piece of her furniture felt like a lead bar was hidden in it by the time we had finished. I am happy to report that nearly every man in church showed up and helped her move. It was a lot of work but we had a great time joking with each other during and after that move. I've always said that if you ever want to know how many people really love you, invite them to help you move. The ones that show up, really love you. That statement is not meant to be cynical but, it is the essence of love. Love is a choice and many times a sacrifice. Love is sacrificing your time, your energy, your money and a kind word with those you love, with strangers, and even with that special someone who annoys you.
As I grow older and hopefully wiser it becomes more and more clear as to how simple the Gospel really is. It's all about love. Jesus broke it down when he answered the Pharisee's lawyer's question of what is the greatest commandment. Jesus simply answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Two things I've learned about loving others is, you really end up loving people you sacrifice for; and God doesn't grow your love for others through the prayer: "Oh God, help me love others", he grows your love for others when you're obedient to his commandment to love others.
Michael Parsons
Oakhill Jackson Community
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 25 – Day 9
Seeking His Life to Revive the Church
Seek God....for His people to love and obey Him
"I have set before you life and death...so choose life in order that you and your children may live..." Deuteronomy 30:19-20
How many choices do we make every day? Do we choose daily to live boldly as a people saved by grace? A people saved to live a life of love? Some choices are more earth shattering and more life changing than others. Yet Go
Choices can be personal, every day decisions. Some are on a larger scale, made in community. As a nation, we choose men and women to lead us and to make choices that affect the whole nation, and even the entire planet. Lord God, Your church makes choices on a national level, regional level and congregational level. Have mercy on us and those who lead us...together may we be obedient to You alone, and not fall prey to foolish distractions.
When face to face with a choice, should we rely on our own wisdom and intellectual prowess, or do we rely on unsearchable wisdom from a higher, infinite source? Romans 11:33 is one of my favorite doxologies...Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Let us choose to pray, to have a conversation with this God who sets before us life and death, and gives us the freedom to choose...life with Him or death! Let us believe that prayer makes a difference. The Lord our God is always near to His people, His chosen ones. Go
As a mother with young adult children in a conflicting world where a battle is being waged for souls, my most passionate prayer from today's prayer guide is for each of my children to love God with all their heart, hear God’s voice directing their lives, sense the touch of His hand, and cling to Him every day. O Lord, may they stand firm in their faith, that worldly pleasures and the ruler of this age have no power over them. Let us all pray for today's generation, tomorrow's leaders.
Every day, I pray God will help me to make life-giving, love-giving choices. Father in heaven, may each and every one of us, Your beloved people, choose life today! May we turn our affections daily away from worldly treasures and “the seductive powers of this age” we live in, and toward You, the One who still comes to be at the heart of us and to lead us in finding our way. Amen.
Kim Drischell
St. Mark’s Lutheran
Thursday, February 25 – Day 9
Seeking His Life to Revive the Church
Seek God....for His people to love and obey Him
Jesus wanted His followers to love one another yet He understood how difficult that would be in a worl
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." This passage from John 13:34-35 describes the mark which Christ places on anyone who would follow Him and his teaching. The "mark" (sacrificial love) is how Christians are to be identified - how they are to be known around the world.
Recent research suggests that many Christians today do no better at brotherly love (let alone sacrificial love) than non-Christians. That's a very sad piece of information. Agape love (sacrificial love) is the single greatest apologetic. It is the only tool an evangelist needs. Anyone following Christ's "new commandment" doesn't even need a spoken language to spread the gospel. Words, explanations, rationales, justifications and other arguments are nothing in comparison to brotherly love.
Christ knew all that. He understood clearly that when His followers lived lives of sacrificial agape love, others woul
If we Christians intentionally practice loving one another as Christ loves us, there would be little need for revivals or evangelists or apologists. There would be fewer pagans to evangelize, fewer dying Christians to revive and fewer agnostics to argue with.
All Christians, to be worth their salt and light, must follow that "new commandment". I've got a long way to go, but I'm working on it, are you?
Sam Dronebarger
Associate Pastor
Noelridge Park Church
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 22 – Day 6
Seek God….to impart His life-giving Spirit
Am I alive, or am I dead? Wow, what a crazy question, I can see myself moving so obviously I am alive. So physically as I look at myself this morning I am alive and actually doing pretty well. As I approach retirement age, I have few if any aches and pains. I can do everything I need so far for myself, physically.
Recently as I have been walking down the hallways at work I have been reminded and thankful that I really feel pretty good. I think the reason those thoughts have come to me is because we just put my mom in a nursing home because she can no longer take care of herself. Her body is wearing out, but the more serious problem is that her mind is wearing out to. She has dementia and we don’t know who we will see the next time we go visit, will it be our mom or someone who is no longer connected to the reality of life.
I once had a co-worker who would frequently say, “Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most”. I used to laugh about that when he would say that, but now it has taken on a different meaning to me with my mom’s condition. Without a clear and positive mind, life becomes extremely difficult.
But what about my spiritual life – am I alive or am I dead? That has become a more serious question to me of late. It is easy for me to fool those around me, I can put on an act if I desire. For years I lived as a “Christian” thinking I was doing just fine. I grew up in a “Christian” home but the Christian emphasis was wrapped around that hour service every Sunday.
Then I joined a different church after I was married and we became strong advocates of the law, we kept the Sabbath, at least we thought we did. All the Old Testament Holy days, and thought we were the only church God was working with. We would not associate at all with any other church, as we judged them all to be wrong. For 25 years I tried to obey the law, it was so much like the people of Israel, trying to obey the law.
In the mid 90’s “His life-giving Spirit”, knocked on the door of the leadership of our denomination. God created a new heart in some of those in the leadership roles of our denomination, and the Holy Spirit made Ezekiel 37 ring true in the hearts of some of us in our denomination. “Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.” The sad part of it all is only about 30% of the denomination heard the voice of the Holy Spirit when He said, “I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life.” O Holy Spirit, thank you for getting through to some of us and changing our lives forever. I pray that you would reach all of us!
This morning, I praise my Father in heaven for committing to the promise of Jesus when He said, “I will send to you a comforter” Oh, God, I pray that you will impart His Life-giving Spirit to Christians and non Christians alike. I have come to realize in these first few days of the 40 days of prayer, that God is seeking out a revival not only for those who don’t know Him, but I feel a real call from the Holy Spirit, crying out to we Christians, who think we are doing OK.
My old tradition was to obey the law and if I was good enough, I would be saved. I learned in the mid 90’s, there is NO WAY that I can obey the law. Salvation is a gift from God and nothing I can do can make me good enough to earn salvation. Jesus founded the one true church, the church of Jesus Christ. It must become a way of life. We must knock down the barriers that divide Christians from worshiping together.
To give up the law, and realize that all I need to do is repent and believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, was so foreign at first. But I have been given such Peace in my heart, to know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and my personal relationship with Him is a gift, something that was given to me, I surely wasn’t seeking it, God found me, Oh how I praise Him for the Peace He brings to me.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 5:25. God, bring to this city your Holy Spirit in a powerful way. Wake us up from our sleep; don’t allow our spiritual lives to be wasted. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak for us, to act for us, so that the life of Jesus will be reflected through each of us. Help us to get out of your way, and submit to you totally. In Jesus name I pray.
P.S. I count it such a blessing, to have come from a church that wouldn’t reach out to fellow Christians, to be accepted with open arms by all of you who embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior, and that we can worship and Praise Him together, regardless of our denomination. I am so humbly grateful for His Unconditional Love. Unity in Him, forever and ever, Amen
George Bushlack
Family of Faith Community Church
“To Know, Believe, and Serve Him”
Monday, February 22 – Day 6
Seek God…to impart His life-giving Spirit
When Brother Charles asked me to write on day 6, he had no idea about 3 passions of my life. The first passion is “to impart His life giving spirit”. "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." 22Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 The second passion is the Athletic Industry. 24You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! 25Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. 26I don't run without a goal. And I don't box by beating my fists in the air. 27I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. These 2 verses are life verses in my journey with God.
The third passion is praying for Haiti. I recently returned from Haiti as being part of the National Disaster Medical System. I deploy as a Dr of traumatic stress specializing in psychological disorders and as a Chaplain representing Christ in a faith based response to a disaster.
We are asked as a nation to seek God for the city. We are witnessing three events taking place right now under our eyelids; the Olympics, the devastation of a nation with catastrophic results of death, injuries, and loss, and the Holy Spirit available and willing to breathe life into the hearts of those drawing near to God. The prayers today encompass these three events.
I was schooled on faith in Haiti. I was surrounded by a people of faith because that is all they had. This is a nation that was maimed, lamed and shamed. This is a nation broken physically and emotionally. The Holy Spirit was imparting life all around me in a sea of death. I am humbled in pure faith and changed as a result. As we watch our Olympians compete and a nation survive an earthquake, my prayer is that we keep our purpose : seeking God, Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; disciplined in prayer, I do not fight like a man beating the air; and available for divine appointments, No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Lord Jesus, breathe life into our dead bones that we might rise from the depths of despair. Ignite a flame in us to consume those around us with your power and presence. May we learn lessons from the Olympians and Haitians in their journey for survival. May we become a city desperate for You. May we become a people humbled to a pure state of faith, hope and love.
Jim Coyle
Neighborhood Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 18 – Day 2
Thursday, February 18 - Day 2
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, February 17 - Day 1
Richard Speight, Come Rest Ministries
Wednesday, February 17 - Day 1
Living Outrageously for Christ ~ Terry
180° Youth Ministries - Hus Presbyterian Church