Awesome Prayer for God's Wisdom

Again, I'm in Colossians today, this time let's back up to chapter 1.

Col 1:9-14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NIV

I love this prayer Paul prayed and I have written it out
so you can pray it over yourself or someone else.
I love to pray the Word!
Not in a repetitive, meaningless way-
but speaking it out because it is life and power!!

(Insert "I" and "me" or the name of the one you are praying for.)

Lord, I ask You to fill _____________ with the knowledge of Your will through
all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

I pray this in order that ____________may live a life worthy of You Lord
and may please You in every way.

That _________ may bear fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of You God.

That ____________ would be strengthened with all power according to
Your glorious might.

So that ____________ may have great endurance and patience,
and joyfully give thanks to You Father, who has qualified ____________ to
share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

For You have rescued ___________ from the dominion of darkness
and brought ___________ into the kingdom of the Son You love,
in whom ___________ have been redeemed and forgiven!

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen!

Whatever you do...

I was reading in Colossians 3 this morning and some wonderful words jumped out at me.

The whole chapter is so good, but here are a few highlights.
Col 3:16
16 Let the words of Christ, in all their richness,
live in your hearts and make you wise.
Use his words to teach and counsel each other.
NLT

I want to be wise don't you?!! It's His Word that will do that.
I pray for wisdom constantly.

In fact...if I could ask for prayer, I'm in the midst of making a huge decision about something that I believe God has put on my heart to do.

Please pray for me that I will hear clearly and God will open doors for this.
Thanks so much!!!

Then in verse 17 it says:
Col 3:17
17 And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
NLT
How powerful is that?!!

WHATEVER YOU DO....
I do alot of things!

I needed this Word today, I hope it blesses you too!

PS: the next verse is:
Col 3:18
18 You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
NLT

Think that's any coincidence??? =)

Persecution

From Voice of the Martyrs :

Korean Hostages Told, Convert to Islam or Die

SOUTH KOREA – UPDATE: On

September 12, 2007

South Korean Christian aid workers held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks, reported being beaten and ordered at gun point to convert to Islam, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

According to the BBC, the former hostages told a press conference they were made to work like slaves while in captivity. Jae Chang-hee told reporters,

“We were beaten with a tree branch or kicked around. Some kidnappers threatened us with death at gunpoint to force us to follow them in chanting their Islamic prayer for conversion. I was beaten many times. They pointed a rifle and bayonet at me and tried to force me to convert.”

Jae Chang-hee added, “We lived like slaves. We had to level the ground for motorbikes, and get water and make a fire.”

BBC reported that Yu Jung-hwa said she thought she was going to die.

“The most difficult moment, when I had a big fear of death, was when the Taliban shot a video. All 23 of us leaned against a wall and armed Taliban aimed their guns at us, and a pit was before me. They said they will save us if we believe in Islam. I almost fainted at the time and I still cannot look at cameras.”

On July 19, the Taliban kidnapped the 23 South Korean Christian aid workers when they were traveling by bus from Kabul to Kandahar. The group’s leader, Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, and another male hostage were killed.

Twenty-one members of the group were released last month following an agreement between South Korea and the Taliban.

Recalling how Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu was led away to his death, the BBC said Han Ji-young, in tears, added, “Bae didn’t even look at us when he was leaving the room. He only said, ‘Overcome with faith.’”

Continue praying for God to touch the lives of these believers as they deal with their experience in Afghanistan. Pray God comforts the families of the two that were killed. Pray the testimony of these Christians will draw non-believers into fellowship with Him.


This is happening NOW. Not 100 years ago.

And we sit in our American churches and argue about___________________________.

You fill in the blank and tell me if it’s worth it.


Having been in ministry for over 20 years I have heard a lot of complaining that goes on in church and I’ve personally been a part of a fair share it.

Shame on me, shame on us as Christians.


Unfortunately, churches spend so much time arguing about ridiculous things (that usually just involve the pride of one or a few people) that they can't get down to the real business of what the Church is supposed to do.


Let’s commit to getting past this stuff.
Let’s commit to pray for our leaders instead of criticize.











Let’s put out fires instead of encourage them.


A time may come in our nation that we cannot worship as freely as we do now and we may face persecution like they do in South Korea.


Are we prepared for that?

Love them like Jesus did

How do we love like Jesus loved and not become corrupted by the world?

One thing about Jesus that always sticks out to me is how (some of) the sinners loved Him.
Think about that.
Many of them wanted to be around Him.
He was looked down on by His followers (other Christians to us) because He spent time with these people.

Even today He is accused of sin (DaVinci Code…Last Temptation of Christ…etc) because of His connection with sinners.

Look at this scripture:
John 3:16-18
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
NIV

We know this verse, we skim right through that don’t we…

Look again at the first 6 words…

For God so loved the world.

He loves the world (people), then and now. His love for people in this world did not change once we decided to receive Jesus and forsake the ways of this world. His heart still aches for it.
Does mine?
Does yours?
It should if we are His children and He lives in us.

Look again at verse 17.
He did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Why do I (I’ll put the microscope on me lest you feel I am pointing a finger…I’m looking in a mirror first) condemn it? That is not His heart.

Will they all love us because we love them? Hardly.
John 15:18-20
18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.
As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you.
NIV

Yet, He gave His life willingly for them.
Because He loved them.

Mark 2:15-17
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
NIV

How could Jesus “hang” with these sinners and not become corrupted by them?
He could because He stayed in His authority the whole time.
He never handed over who He was.
He never let the environment control Him.
He had a purpose.
He was not drawn to their sinful ways,
He was drawn to them because of His love for them.
THEY were drawn to Him because He showed them mercy not judgment.
Jude 17-23
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers
who will follow their own ungodly desires."
19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts
and do not have the Spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith
and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt;
23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy,
mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
NIV

“Be merciful to those who doubt”…hmmm.

You might be wondering, am I forgetting Romans 1 and that our God is HOLY? Absolutely not.
He will not be mocked.
He is a righteous God that does not play with sin.
He will bring judgment.
He will- I don’t have to.

We are not to water-down our faith so we can “fit in”…what I am challenging myself to do is become more like Jesus and really love people. Especially the people who I am not always comfortable around. Show mercy.

If you feel yourself being “drawn to the fire” than by all means- back off!
Spend time with your Lord, let Him become your one true desire.
I am not advocating that we live LIKE the world so that we can love people.

Separate the sin from the sinner- love the sinner!
Accept the sinner not the sin.

This ended up being longer than I planned and I still have more to say…so we’ll continue later!

~Hot Topics~ One Way or many ways?

I had heard about this show but never saw it myself.
I know that some of you love Oprah and I do too. I think she is a wonderful humanitarian, incredibly smart and so much fun to watch.
However, I would have to disagree with her on this point.

This is an example of the way that a great majority of our world thinks today.



Whew! That gets my heart beating fast!

I don't know when this was taped and it possible that this is no longer her opinion- I don't know.
BUT my point is.... MANY people DO feel this way now.

How are we living and speaking to these people?
Are they seeing the truth of Jesus is our lives?

This is a huge challenge to me lately.
I don't want to walk this planet aimlessly.
I want to show forth the goodness and truth of my Great God.

What about you? Are you convinced yourself that there is one way or do you think there could be many ways to reach "God?"

Maybe these will help:

1 Tim 2:4-7 5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time.
NIV

John 14:66
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
NIV

I enjoy watching some of the talk shows for women. But I am also very careful to make sure that my faith is not being weakened by what is being said.
I don't care WHO says it...if it disagrees with what the Word of God says...it's wrong!

Be alert girls, satan would love to trip us up and get us off track "just a little" by the things we hear on TV.
Just for the record...
* Godly submission is holy!
* Your kids DO need discipline.
* Being a wife and mother is an honor to the Lord.

Ok, off the soapbox...(for now)....

Reminder, Jesus said...

Luke 6:27-28
27 "But I tell you who hear me:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
NIV

Have you prayed for those who mistreat you lately?

~Hot Topics~ Weapons of Mass Destruction

Grab your coffee- we've got things to discuss.

They couldn't find them in Iraq, but I see evidence of them in my own life far too often.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

NIV

There is no hiding these in Syria...they pop up when I am least expecting it and they destroy the peace, love and joy that God truly wants me (US) to have.

These are weapons so stealth and powerful that I can be thrown right off track in the matter of minutes when I ALLOW them to be effective in my life.

Let's look at a few WMD's that the enemy uses to cause destruction in my life...

and as ~HOT TOPICS~ goes- it is then your turn to interject your input on this subject.

*COMPLAINING

I can get myself in such a rut with complaining. I think of it as a "gateway" sin...it just opens the door to other rotten attitudes.

Phil 2:14-17
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. NIV

It destroys my peace and is linked hand in hand with-

*UNTHANKFULNESS

UGH! This one is especially dangerous. Our hearts can be set off track so quickly by not continuing to be thankful for ALL that the Lord has done.

Heb 12:28-29
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." NIV

When I read blogs like Heather’s I realize that I have so much to be thankful for. She is walking through this difficult time with grace and not letting the cancer dictate her daily attitude and love for her God.

*CRITICISM

Matt 7:3-53

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. NIV

That pretty much says it all.
Who am I to put someone else down when I've got this telephone pole in my own eye!

*WORRY/FEAR

I can get myself in a frenzy getting worried about something that may or may not ever happen? Anybody else??

You start thinking about something and before you know it, your heart is pounding and you start reacting to a situation that has not even happened!

Psalm 91 has helped me tremendously in this. Here is a portion of it:

Ps 91:9-11
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — 10 then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your way NIV

*PRIDE

Prov 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall. NIV

Need I say more?

*ANGER

The Word of God says it best:

Prov 29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,but a wise man keeps himself under control. NIV

Eph 4:26-27

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. NIV

James 1:19-21
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. NIV

Anger in and of itself is not sinful, but what we do with it can quickly become sin and destroy the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts.

Left to ourselves, these weapons will destroy us- thankfully, we have not been left to ourselves!!

2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

Once again- He's the answer!
Don't you just love HIM!

He loves us far too much to leave us victims to these WMD's- He's made a way of escape and it is right into His loving arms. The key lies in our knowledge (and belief) of Him and His truth.

Let's bring this all together with this:

Gal 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV

Truth is so beautiful!

One Year Anniversary of our Gotcha Day!

Lord, You saw her "red and screaming" on the steps of a Buddhist Temple in China and chose to coordinate her life so that she would end up in our arms...thank you so much!

We'll never be the same.

One year ago today...

It was the eve of our "Gotcha Day" for Lauren.
Here are some pictures of her before she came to her forever home.

Lauren's First Gymnastics Class!

She had so much fun and I had a blast watching her!!

Quite the little Princess.

East to West

This is an awesome new song by Casting Crowns.

What a wonderful reminder of how much He loves us and is so merciful to forgive our sins.

Thank you Lord!!

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning
In Your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where
You found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before You now
As though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the East is from the West?
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
Cause You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the East is from the West?
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
Cause You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I know You've washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel
But by the truth Your word reveals
And I'm not holding onto You
But You're holding onto me
You're holding onto me
Jesus, You know just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest (mercy I find rest)
Cause You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other
(Just how far, the East is from the West, Just how far)
From one scarred hand to the other
(You know just how far, the East is from the West, Just how far)
From one scarred hand to the other

girlfriends