Thursday, June 30, 2005

WOW!!

Through the years as you grow up, you hear phrases like "we'll be prayin for ya", or" you need to pray on it", to name a few, you can pick your favorite. The responses really didn't seem GENUINE if you know what I mean. To me it was almost just a saying someone said like," see ya later" or" come back soon", so prayer never meant to much to me.
But just recently, within the last year or so I have tried to keep tabs on what prayers have been
asked for and the results that followed.
All I can say is WOW, I couldn't even begin to post a run down of them!!
It is a great affirmation of Gods work to see all of the things he has done through our prayers!
I'm grateful to be part of it all.
Thank you God.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

This Preacher Has Guts!!

Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of _expression We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation under God."

Prayers / Praise

It's a Wednesday thing!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Something Different

Man Made Mountain! God Made Mountain!


Sunday, June 26, 2005

Tounges

Christina and I have friends that worship at another church.
Today they talked about Tounges and how one of the people we know, had gotten the Holy Ghost and started talking in Tounges and then fell out.
I have read in the book of Acts about tounges and how if you don't have an interpreter, speaking in tounges doesn't really benifit the congregation.
So I have a few questions, and opinions are welcomed!
Has anyone ever witnessed this for themselves, and if so what did you get from it.
How do you just Get the Holy Ghost, I thought that was what Baptism was all about.
Maybe Im confused, So somebody straighten me out.
I'm gonna leave this up until the wise DEP returns.
Darryl if your reading, give me your take on this.
Your more than welcomed to leave your thoughts and opinions!!

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Look Close and See His Work

Why is it that when good things happen to people, that the credit for those things is givin to
another person?
For instance a car full of people miss going over the side of a hill, and the driver gets credit for saving their lives.
I know for fact that it wasn't me who made that car stop!! (ask me about it)
Or when bad things happen all of a sudden people start to question God and his existance?
You usually hear that " if there is a God, and God is great, why didn't he save my wife from dying" we prayed.
Why is it that GOD rarely gets the praise he deserves, but always gets the blame?
In my case I have started to look deep into what happens around me, to see how God is working!
Do the bad things happen when we try to control our own destiny?
Do the good things happen when we let God control our destiny?
I know God is at work in my life, let him work in yours too.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Prayer Requests?

It's the middle of the week, sometimes we don't get to talk.
Sometimes we may have learned of a hardship or a praise.
Today is the day to let everyone know.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Sharing

I know there have been a few posts about sharing lately, but this is so cool I have to tell it!
You see at night before I read my bible, I usally lay my head on it and pray.
When I finish praying(unless I'm looking to study a certain topic), I just flip the pages to whatever page comes up (Kinda like shuffling cards) and I start reading.
9 times out of 10, what I flip to, is relavent to what is happening around me, how I'm feeling, something that someone had talked to me about, maybe something Tom had talked about.
I would even say that the 1 time is probably relavent, but I dont understand it!
Well with everything that has gone on, last night I flipped to the book of.......Job.
Not the middle, not the end, Right smack on the first page!
What an eye opener, the one person in the whole bible, that Satan tried to get to curse God,
and he cursed his own birth.
Job was a righteous man and even offered sacrifices for his children( just in case they had messed it up with God) and he never looked away from God.
That is a true testemony of faith!!
So if you have something cool to share, leave it in the comments!!

Monday, June 20, 2005

Compromise!

Well I guess you can say that, depending on your point of view.
I have taken a step on principle, not what some suggested I should do, Not out of my own selfish pride, but what I felt was right!
I didn't do anything out of anger, I didn't even get angry, I'm not angry now.
I am looking for a new job though!
And now I question WHY don't people who are supposedly Christians, stand up for their brothers or sisters in Christ?
Is it really that hard to take a stand against what the world says is right and what God says is right?
I don't remember reading the part where "Jesus Compromised"
Jesus did many great things but he never once, went against the word!
Are we in the first century, where Christians are prosecuted for their beliefs?
In Corporate America, Yes we are!
I am a sinner, I will continue to ask for forgiveness DAILY!
I Know that I am going to find a job that God wants me to have, No doubt in my mind!
Again I thank God for the blessings that I cannot see.

So how was your Monday!!

Love Ya!!

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Mondays

Why do supposed christians, when put in a position of authority, forget thier love for others? or is it that they never had it in the first place?

Tomorrow I will be tested, not a physical test, not a mental test, but for me it will be a test of the love I have for people.
Or the dislike I have for thier ways.
My patience has wavered, my mouth has almost overun with unpleasent words, my mind has not been in a positive light.
I will need prayer Monday for the words to say, the right way to express my feelings,
and for piece of mind.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Life

Did you ever wonder why things in your life are the way that they are?
I for one do not have many monetary things, not that I don't want certain things,
They just aren't on the top of my priority list.
But I look around at what I have and I am truly blessed!
I work every day, I come home to a loving wife and kids,I have the priveledge of being in a group of brothers on Wednesday night, that is awesome.
Thursday I get to play ball with a bunch of my friends!
And on Sunday, I get to worship with a group of believers who TRULY love God!
When you quit looking at all of the things that you don't have, and realize all of the things that you take for granted, you start to see how great our one and only father really is.

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better then they?
Matthew 6:26

Thank you Father for the blessings that I am too blind to see.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Focus?

I have to admit focusing is not my strong point at times.
I focus on the things I think are important, we all do this.
But today something Smacked me right in the face!
My Youngest son Adam, asked "Why during ministry time at church, don't we ever go to pray"?
Adam is 8 and this was something that came as a big suprise to me.
I asked if there was something that we needed to pray about?
He wanted to pray for his mother.(Long story)
When he got to the pit to be prayed with, he broke into tears, I broke into tears,I was hoping Sammy would hold it together, (he did, thank you brother!) it was then that I realized that I had lost my Focus!
I had been Focusing on so many other things, that I had neglected to keep up on what he had been thinking and help him with his problems!
I tell him over and over that he is just a kid, dont grow up too soon, live your life and have fun, don't worry I can fix it.
Well today my friends, a child taught me that I can't fix everything!
But he showed me who could!
Love Ya!

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Open Doors - 2

Just a quick update on my oldest son, I finaly talked to him, and he is spending the night with us tonight.
He has to work tomorrow so he won't be at church with us.
But I did get him to commit to a softball game or two, out of sympathy for his aging, beat up old man!
Thanks for all of the prayers,
Praise God!!

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Open Doors

This past week our Pastor Tom, Had a great sermon about God opening and closing doors,
and how we should respond to those situations.
Accept the doors that are opened, and quit trying to knock down the ones that are closed!
Well with that being said, I would like to share a few opened doors that God has given me this week! Mainly tonight!
I have had the opportunity tonight to worship with my small group, and while I was there, I received a phone call from my oldest son Anthony's mother, (we havn't been in contact for over two years) she said that he wanted to contact me and gave me a phone number to reach him!

1 prayer answered!

Then when I got home from group I had the opportunity to minister to a Leeann, and her sister Shannon who is recovering also, and was asked to pray over them.

2 prayers answered!

My prayer for all of Us is that We accept those opened doors, and let God do his work throughUs!

Prayer Requests / Praise Reports

AND it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. LUKE 11:1

Monday, June 06, 2005

Update On Leeann and Alexis

To all who Held our friends up in prayer, I must say you guys are good, and our father was definately listening.
Alexis is spending time with her favorite adopted family(thats us), a sleepover of sorts,
Leeann went to church with her mom this past Sunday, and confessed her addiction and asked for prayer from the congregation.
She still has a long road to travel, but at least she will not be traveling alone!
As my Buddy Sammy would say,
Praise God!!

Slow Down!

Is it just me or does it seem that things are just going too fast lately?
Seems like everything has to be done NOW!
Go to work, come home,pick the wife up, pick the kids up, cook dinner, do homework, (If you have kids), Take them to activities, Get them in the shower, get them in the bed, Get ready for bed yourself, dishes, laundry, bloggin, cleanhouse, find time to spend with your mate, find time to spend with GOD!!
AAAHHHHH!!!

WHOOOAAA!!
Why can't we just slow down, take a few deep breaths, sleep in, go fishing, take the family on a picnic, take the time to really give God his share of our day!
Is it that hard to do?
Do we fill our idle time with so much, that we forget what is really important?
I know I do!

Saturday, June 04, 2005

How to help?

Christina and I have a freind, she has a little girl Adams age, so we see them frequently, if not daily.
Our problem is this: This young lady has an addiction, we try to influence her and councel her, we offer support when she needs it, but nothing seems to help!
She spent a few hours with us today and as soon as we returned home she was gone, her cravings full force!
Christina tried to get her to stay home, talking wasn't the solution she needed.
The worst part of it is, she took her daughter with her, Christina offered to keep her, to the point of begging, but her mind was fixed on her craving.
2 things,
1. Please Pray for the safety of Alexis, (the child)
2. Please pray for Leeann her mom.

Love ya

Friday, June 03, 2005

ROMANS 12:15

"Rejoice with them that do Rejoice, and Weep with them that Weep".

Have you ever been so excited for the good things that happen to someone, that you got just as excited?
It's a truly great feeling!
But have you ever looked into someones eyes and seen there pain?
Not just superficial on the outside pain, But I'm talking the DEEP pain that you see in there eye's that comes from their heart?
I will say this,
If you have never WEPT with someone at their lowest point, how can you REJOICE with them at their highest!

JOHN 11:35 JESUS WEPT

So why cant we!!

Faith?

I was in a conversation yesterday with another christian, the topic was faith.
I know that the apostles healed in the name of Jesus, they had seen the miracles, they were right in the mix of the life of Jesus Christ.
So I asked" Why is it that you don't here about or see those type of biblical miracles today"?
Or do we?
What do we have to do to have that kind of faith?
Could we move mountains?
Could we heal with our hands?
Is it that we dont think we are worthy, to do these kinds of works?
Or do we do these works with our prayers?
I have seen prayer work, it has worked on me, is this our healing power?

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Addiction!

Why is it that people become addicted to anything?
And why is it that addictions are categorized?
You are looked down upon by others for the "Big" addictions, Gambling, Drugs, Alchohol,Tobbaco, etc..
But the Small addictions are O.K?
Overindulgience of food, is that an addiction?
Is there a difference between big and small?
Is it because as humans, we are daily tempted with what feels good?
And why as Christians is it somehow our Faith in God that others question, when they see an addiction that hasn't been overcome, or becomes a struggle for us?
I have friends who are not in a walk with God, and that makes their addictions O.K?
I don't condemn them for it, so why do they condemn me?

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Prayer Requests

I think that Wednesday's will be for Prayer requests that we may need to help us get through the week. Please leave your requests in the comments.
Love Ya!