Always Worth It

iPray

Sunday, 11 September 2011 14:35 |

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

- Matthew 21:22

Do you believe in the power of prayer? I know I do! I have witnessed many seemingly unbelievable things, all of which I attribute to prayer.

One of the first times prayer made an impact on me was in June of 1998. I was laying in a hospital bed after an out-patient surgery to remove a growth from my side. I would say that I had had a rough couple of years in terms of faith. I felt like I didn't fit in with my youth group, and had recently switched churches. I'd dealt with some things that I didn't understand, and that I couldn't see God in at all. I was on skaky ground, that's for sure.

What I remember most about that day was a very simple thing that my mom said to me. She said, "You know a lot of people were praying for you today." I think I felt, at least a little, a sense of peace. I couldn't explain it, and it has only grown in meaning for me over the years, but it felt reassuring to know that people cared. Faithful people trusted God to keep me safe. There was hope in that.

When there are no words...know that the silences
are carrying the thoughts and prayers of all who love you.

- Dawn Dais

Sometimes we're dealing with things that are hard. When you have no words to comfort a friend, maybe prayer is a place you can turn. Or when we are the person dealing with the chaos of life, then maybe that's when a friend's prayers can take the place of our own.

And if the answers don't seem to come, or they come in ways we don't expect or even want, that's when we have to trust that God knows what He's doing.

Keep praying, but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers!

- William Culbertson

I sometimes forget all of the things prayer can do for youth. It can empower them to know that we, as the adults they respect and trust, are praying for them. It can calm nerves, it can be a way of release, and it can teach lifelong lessons about trust, faith, and love.

I hope to enstill in the youth that I work with, in my friends, and in my family that prayer is important to me. And that I trust in the power my prayers, and the prayers of others around me can have on lives and on the world.

Pray boldly...even when it scares you to think about what God might ask you to do as an answer.

Pray compassionately...you never know when your own heart may be changed.

Pray honestly...it is when we are most open that we learn our deepest strengths and insecurities.

Pray humbly...it is in our vulnerable moments that God can work miracles.

Prayer is not asking for what you think you want,
but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine.

- Kathleen Norris

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Last Updated (Sunday, 11 September 2011 14:36)

iServe

Sunday, 04 September 2011 10:18 |

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 2:5

What I really love about this verse is that it reminds us that it's about our thoughts and not just our actions. I got to see the true meaning of this over the summer on our mission trip to New York City.

On Monday morning, my 7 kids, other chaperone, and I piled into our 15 passenger van and drove from Washington Heights over to the Bronx. We were probably all feeling a little apprehensive and unsure about how things would go. My contact from LSS:NY showed up and took all of us up to the apartment we'd be painting for new refugee families. We rode the elevator to the top floor of the apartment building and walked into a huge unit.

The apartment had 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, 2 living rooms, and many hallways. Every surface had been painted originally (face plates, outlets, heat registers, etc.), which meant that we would have to do the same thing. We looked at the task before us, and knew we only had a few days. I honestly think it was a bit overwhelming.

That first day went alright. We painted a decent amount. And no one was crabby about it. However, I think the work wasn't necessarily our first priority.

Later that night, we did a devo based on the Philippians verse. And the next day, we spent the entire day moving furniture. It was a lot of work, but the really cool part about it was that we all got to meet some of the refugee families that LSS:NY helps. Not the same families who would be living in the apartment we were painting, but I think it put faces to what we were doing just the same.

On day three, we were back in the apartment painting all day. The difference in attitudes was almost tangible. I was almost in tears by the end of the day because I was so proud of my kids. They got so much done! It was awesome to see the transformation...in the apartment and in their hearts.

They say that actions speak louder than words, and I think that's very true. But going beyond that, I think that attitude speaks louder than actions.

You can't always change your circumstances, but you can always change your attitude. You can't always change the things that happen to you, but you can always change the way you look at them.

Being like Jesus is not just about doing things that Jesus did, or what you think He would do now. It's always about doing things with the same attitude, mind, and heart that Jesus had, and would have today.

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iGo

Friday, 02 September 2011 20:32 |

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seek the King, the LORD Almighty."

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tons from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

- Isaiah 6:1-8

Ten years ago, I worked at Lutherdale Bible Camp in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. One night, the staff had a devo on this scripture passage. The scripture was read aloud to us and then we had a hot rock touched to our lips. We were asked, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And then we were able to respond. Even though it was ten years ago, I have never forgotten that night. In fact, I still have my rock.

We are all given choices. I'd actually suspect that we are faced with decisions every day where we can stand up and say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me wherever you need me!" But do we make that stand? Or do we sit back down and assume someone else will do the job?

Commitments aren't often easy. It seems to me that people are less and less interested in committing to anything. It's like pulling teeth to even get my friends to commit to weekend plans on a Monday! It's like we're always waiting to see if something better will come along. But just because commitments aren't easy, doesn't mean we aren't supposed to make them.

Taking that first step can be hard. Making the decision to stand up and say, "Yep. Send me!" is not going to come naturally to most of us. But start with baby steps. Make a commitment to do something you feel called to do, and then do it. Go to church. Join a Bible study. Go on a mission trip. Volunteer. Teach Sunday school. Do something. Trust God enough to open yourself up to wherever He may choose to send you. Go where He leads. And make the assumption that wherever He's taking you is the best thing that will come along.

Your guilt has been taken away. Your sins are atoned for. Your excuses are gone. Just go.

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Last Updated (Friday, 02 September 2011 20:35)