Pray Specific!

We all have seasons where God has us in a holding pattern.  Currently I am in one of those seasons, waiting for God to open up an opportunity for full time children's ministry.  However, while I wait on God, I am working with an amazing group of real estate agents.  

Until stepping into this office three years ago, I had no idea how much work went into helping someone buy/sell a home.  I work with some of the hardest working people on the planet.  Their cell phones are permanently plastered to their hands and they are always on the move. Even though their job can be exhausting at times, they love what they do.  However, like any business they go through rough seasons where clients just don't seem to be calling or the right homes just aren't up for sale.  

We had a couple of agents who were dealing with one of those seasons recently.  I encouraged them to pray specific.  There are days we need to stop and tell God how we feel and what we need.  Not just what we need but EXACTLY what we need.  

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Sometimes God is just waiting on us to ask.  Does God know what we need?  Yes, he does but he loves it when we ask things from Him.  God cares about how we feel and what we are going through.  He loves to spend time with us.  And the Bible says, 

Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

I'm not really sure how much more clear God could be.  If you believe and ask, God will answer.  In fact, both of those agents have seen an increase in their business.  One of them is so busy she doesn't know what to do with herself.  

God loves you and wants what is best for you.  Sometimes all you have to do is ASK.  Perhaps, I need to start taking my own advice and pray specific.  How About You?

Become a Peacemaker

I Thessalonians 5:14-18

"And we urge you brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in 

Christ Jesus."

If you turn on the news any day at any time, you will inevitably hear what anger has caused in someones life; the drastic affects of broken hearts and broken lives.   There are days it pains me to turn on the television.  I feel tremendous grief over the condition of the World around me.  

However, I have a choice to make each and every day.  Am I going to allow the struggles of the World to drag me down and overwhelm me?  Or, am I going to stand up and affect change in my little corner of the World.  

I love this passage because it gives us clear instructions on how to create a movement of love and peace all around us.  And it all begins in you!  I can't ask someone else to change if I myself am unwilling to make the effort.  We all have days where anger can overtake us.  However, what are we going to do with it?  I like to take a negative situation and turn it around for God's Glory.  Channel our hurt and anger into making a difference in someone else's life. Take the attention off of the negative all around you and make someone else smile, give them the gift of hope.  If you ask me, that's what Jesus would do.

Jesus suffered greatly, yet His only thought was you and your life eternally.   If we are going to truly follow after God, we must follow His example.  Become a peacemaker.  Everyday make effort to live your life according to God's Word and encourage others to do the same.  Be a light to the World around you.  When I am struggling, I can't help quoting Spock from Star Trek in my mind.  OK... Yes...Big Geek and Proud.  But I love when Spock says, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."  It's true!  I may not feel like being a peacemaker today, but the needs of those around me are far more important than what I may be going through.

And there is something cool that happens when we bless other people.  This feeling of pure joy and excitement will flood your being as you follow Jesus' example of service to others.  There is really nothing like blessing people and seeing their lives transformed.

So follow the verse and Rejoice, Pray, and Give thanks!  There is really nothing like doing the will of God.  When you begin to see the lives of people around you change, you will totally forget about your own mess.  It just won't matter anymore!

Blessings!

Heroes In Training

Ephesians 6:19-20

"Pray also for me that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

I truly love these two verses.  As I began Children's Ministry several years ago, God gave me this passage and every time I read it I can't help but smile.  In my mind, I picture Paul chained in prison, dressed in tattered rags that just barely cover his superhero costume concealed below.  That may sound a bit strange, but what can I say...if you are worried about me, just remember who created me!

As Paul is writing this letter to the Ephesians, he is chained in prison.  Looking around at his own circumstances, Paul's concern is not his freedom from his situation, but that despite his circumstances God would guide his words as he persists to "Fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."  As I read these verses the first time, I began to weep because finally someone accurately described how I felt every single day.  And that day, I began to own my title "Hero in Training."  

In fact, I am not alone.  We are all Heroes in Training!  Each of us called to tell the World who God is and what Jesus did for them through his death on the cross and his resurrection.  We are all called to be ambassadors, missionaries to all those we come in contact with on a daily basis.  It is no small task, and there are days we don't quite feel up to the challenge.  But because of who He is, we must tell the story.  

There have been a handful of days in my life, that I wished I could walk away from the massive calling He placed upon my life.  The world can be cruel, and the stress of living in a season of such corruption and persecution can wear on our hearts and minds.  That is when we have to run to our phone booths (Prayer closets), change into our hero costume (Put on the Armor of God), and announce our Hero Slogan.  Come on!  Put your fists on your hips, chest out, chin up, eyes on heaven and say it with me, for we are dedicated to "Fearlessly Make Known the Mystery of the Gospel."

I will pray for you as you seek the Lord daily to help you to say the right words to those in need around you, as you don your superhero identity everyday despite your own circumstances to change the World for Christ one person at a time.  Pray also for me, that I too will not grow weary in doing the work for which God has called me.  Together with God's help, prayer, and training through the Word of God we will see the World set Ablaze for Christ!  

Blessings!