ENGAGED
The Lord's Prayer is like a portal into the happenings of the kingdom because it's really Christ's invitation to join Him in His prayer life. I learned this concept from NT Wright (a contemporary English theologian). And I will be forever indebted to him. It's only natural to want to be a part of what you're supposed to be a part of... We are supposed to be making headway in the coming of kingdom of Christ and one of the primary ways we do this is through prayer!
So this morning as you engage in all that is going on in the Kingdom of Christ, thank God that you have the privilege of being right in the middle of the action!
Don't make six days the end of a very short kingdom prayer life...take up Christ's invitation to join Him and together let's pray till His kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven!
This blog is a wake up call: MORE OF CHRIST IN ALL OF LIFE!!!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Day Five of the 6-Day Challenge
Personal Note:
Most of you probably know by now that Ben & Maria Canfield had a baby girl by the biblically rich name of Zion Hope on February 24th at 5:25pm. This was about one month before she was supposed by have the baby by all accounts, except the account of our sovereign Father who is in heaven, whose will was done today in a dramatic and special way.
It's interesting how one day can change one's life so rapidly. It was just a day ago that Ben was sitting in my office. I said, "Can you believe that you're going to be a dad in only one month?" He looked a bit dazed when he replied, "No, I can't believe it." And today, that one month of dazed consideration is forever gone as he now holds his little girl in his arms. In one day, his whole life has changed.
Christy and I just got back from Jacksonville, Fl, where God had providentially prepared for Maria give birth (without telling any of us I might add). I'm very certain that every aspect of their whole ordeal - from being just a few hours away from boarding a Delta plane to stumbling into St. Luke's Hospital in the middle of the night - was all directed by our loving and wise God. They had plans but God had the answer (Proverbs 16:1).
So, tomorrow as you pray through the Lord's Prayer, pray with a sense of reflection on the way in which God moves all the affairs of our lives to demonstrate to a curious world that His way and will for us is always an adventure of supreme mercy, hope and love! Even when we don't get it. Especially, when we don't get it! He is always up to something astounding whether we're in the know or not.
So pray through the Lord's prayer asking God to make you a VIVID example to the watching world of deep trust in a trustworthy, righteous God!
Let's be salt and light. Let's challenge the decay of self dependence and shine the light of God reliance in all things. Whether pain or pleasure, confusion or confidence, life or death...
VIVID...may our church, and even little Zion be just another striking testimony to the faithfulness of our great God!!
Most of you probably know by now that Ben & Maria Canfield had a baby girl by the biblically rich name of Zion Hope on February 24th at 5:25pm. This was about one month before she was supposed by have the baby by all accounts, except the account of our sovereign Father who is in heaven, whose will was done today in a dramatic and special way.
It's interesting how one day can change one's life so rapidly. It was just a day ago that Ben was sitting in my office. I said, "Can you believe that you're going to be a dad in only one month?" He looked a bit dazed when he replied, "No, I can't believe it." And today, that one month of dazed consideration is forever gone as he now holds his little girl in his arms. In one day, his whole life has changed.
Christy and I just got back from Jacksonville, Fl, where God had providentially prepared for Maria give birth (without telling any of us I might add). I'm very certain that every aspect of their whole ordeal - from being just a few hours away from boarding a Delta plane to stumbling into St. Luke's Hospital in the middle of the night - was all directed by our loving and wise God. They had plans but God had the answer (Proverbs 16:1).
So, tomorrow as you pray through the Lord's Prayer, pray with a sense of reflection on the way in which God moves all the affairs of our lives to demonstrate to a curious world that His way and will for us is always an adventure of supreme mercy, hope and love! Even when we don't get it. Especially, when we don't get it! He is always up to something astounding whether we're in the know or not.
So pray through the Lord's prayer asking God to make you a VIVID example to the watching world of deep trust in a trustworthy, righteous God!
Let's be salt and light. Let's challenge the decay of self dependence and shine the light of God reliance in all things. Whether pain or pleasure, confusion or confidence, life or death...
VIVID...may our church, and even little Zion be just another striking testimony to the faithfulness of our great God!!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Day Three 6-Day Prayer Challenge
God is seeking worshippers who are abandoned to Him! Heads full of the knowledge of Christ and hearts full of passion for Christ! A heart(spirit) and head (truth) approach to Christianity will give us the guts to go to war against our flesh and so choose to obey God in our daily life. This is how Christian character is formed. From the inside out. Head, Heart, Habits then Holiness of Life...
Today pray in an ABANDONED kind of way! Pray through The Lord's Prayer in thoughtful, meditative way. Pay attention to every word, every detail. Ask the Holy Spirit to work it deep in your soul, to help you understand what you are reading, and praying more fully.
As you pray, imagine yourself at Disney World or the Daytona 500 or the 7th game of the World Series. How would you respond to every wave of excitement? How would your anticipation and expectation stir you? How would you react toward over-sized mouses running around hugging people, or really fast cars passing other really fast cars going a bit slower, or a home run to tie the game? You would erupt with joy and excitement! You would throw your pop corn or laugh with delight!
So, today as you pray remember that what God is up to with the Kingdom of Christ is bigger than any amusement park, athletic competition or speedway! His kingdom is more loud and electric than Nascar, more exciting and intense than grand slams at the World Series, and more entertaining than a 3-D kids story book land like Disney World!
As you pray do so with joy and excitement! Dig deep in the truth; and as it's truths become more clear react appropriately. Throw your popcorn in delight! Most people don't pray with popcorn, but today I'm suggesting it...just to give you something to toss in joy!
May your praying be ABANDONED today! May your hearts be stirred up and your heads be filled up with the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Day Two of the 6-Day Prayer Challenge: RAISED
In little letter to the Ephesians Paul crams in use after use of a little phrase that for him was apparently really important. The phrase "in Christ" is all over the letter, so that one cannot help but say, "Something about this concept must be of such theological and practical value that Paul was determined that we get it in our heads!"
And you would be right to think such things.
One of my favorite songs is the modern Hymn "In Christ Alone" which was so biblically written that it was one of the first songs our whole family learned together. We even made up motions for it so the kids could memorize it and enjoy singing it with all their heart, mind and body! I encourage you to sing it often, and even try the motions if you're really brave.
Being in Christ is all about his life, his work, his righteousness being credited to our account, so to speak. In other words, what is true of Jesus, because we are in Him, is true of us. Our future resurrection and inheritance is such a done deal by virtue of being in Christ that what is true of Him in Ephesians 1:20 is also true of us(Ephesians 2:6)! So even now we are RAISED with Christ (see Romans 6) and seated with Christ...So, we must live now anticipating our RAISED and seated reality of who we are and who we will finally be in Christ...
Today when you pray through The Lord's Prayer consider the reality of who you are in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the name of God to be honored and glorified as all your fellow RAISED ones live out the powerful implications of being in Christ forever!
Pray that the Kingdom of God would hurry up and come so that we RAISED ones can get to reigning for the glory of Christ without the distraction and disturbing nature of our sinful hearts.
Pray that God's will would be accomplished on this earth in a way that would let all those who are in Christ be right in the thick of it. Pray that God would let you be right in the thick of His will being realized in beautiful and transforming ways in families and communities and countries around the world!
Pray that God would help your understanding of who you are in Christ change how you deal with the basic things of life like food, clothing, shelter, job security, house payments, doctor bills, etc... Pray that he would provide for you as a testimony to those around you of His faithfulness to those who are in Christ.
Pray that God would cleanse you of sin, since you are soon to reign with Christ. Pray that He would prepare you now by showing you your sin and helping you walk in His merciful forgiveness! Pray that you would demonstrate this forgiving mercy toward others at every opportunity!
Pray that temptation would take on a new context as you walk as a RAISED one who has been set free from the guilt of the law and the power of sin to enslave you!
Pray that all of the enemies schemes to sabotage the sanctifying work of Christ in you would fall limply to the ground. Pray that you would press on for the Kingdom!!!
And you would be right to think such things.
One of my favorite songs is the modern Hymn "In Christ Alone" which was so biblically written that it was one of the first songs our whole family learned together. We even made up motions for it so the kids could memorize it and enjoy singing it with all their heart, mind and body! I encourage you to sing it often, and even try the motions if you're really brave.
Being in Christ is all about his life, his work, his righteousness being credited to our account, so to speak. In other words, what is true of Jesus, because we are in Him, is true of us. Our future resurrection and inheritance is such a done deal by virtue of being in Christ that what is true of Him in Ephesians 1:20 is also true of us(Ephesians 2:6)! So even now we are RAISED with Christ (see Romans 6) and seated with Christ...So, we must live now anticipating our RAISED and seated reality of who we are and who we will finally be in Christ...
Today when you pray through The Lord's Prayer consider the reality of who you are in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the name of God to be honored and glorified as all your fellow RAISED ones live out the powerful implications of being in Christ forever!
Pray that the Kingdom of God would hurry up and come so that we RAISED ones can get to reigning for the glory of Christ without the distraction and disturbing nature of our sinful hearts.
Pray that God's will would be accomplished on this earth in a way that would let all those who are in Christ be right in the thick of it. Pray that God would let you be right in the thick of His will being realized in beautiful and transforming ways in families and communities and countries around the world!
Pray that God would help your understanding of who you are in Christ change how you deal with the basic things of life like food, clothing, shelter, job security, house payments, doctor bills, etc... Pray that he would provide for you as a testimony to those around you of His faithfulness to those who are in Christ.
Pray that God would cleanse you of sin, since you are soon to reign with Christ. Pray that He would prepare you now by showing you your sin and helping you walk in His merciful forgiveness! Pray that you would demonstrate this forgiving mercy toward others at every opportunity!
Pray that temptation would take on a new context as you walk as a RAISED one who has been set free from the guilt of the law and the power of sin to enslave you!
Pray that all of the enemies schemes to sabotage the sanctifying work of Christ in you would fall limply to the ground. Pray that you would press on for the Kingdom!!!
Enjoy your praying today...
SECC 6 Day Prayer Challenge
Thank you for joining the SECC church body in a 6 Day Prayer Challenge! The challenge is simple: using the Lord's Prayer as "a portal into the Kingdom of Christ" (if you missed the sermon on ENGAGED check it out at southeffingham.com, the sermon will be up by this afternoon) engage with your Father in heaven connecting one theme from our journey into BRAVE Christianity each day.
Monday: BROKEN
Tuesday: RAISED
Wednesday: ABANDONED
Thursday: ABLAZE
Friday: VIVID
Saturday: ENGAGED
Each day I will give you a bit of a push in the right direction for your praying that day. Feel free to leave a comment on how your time of praying in a more kingdom manner is going. What is God showing you? How is your prayer life different this week from your normal routine? What part of the Lord's Prayer is really pressing on your soul?
SECC, let's learn to pray with Jesus and like Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4). And may His kingdom come for the honor and glory of His name!
Brokenness is simply embracing who you truly are before God and who God truly is before all mankind.
Monday: BROKEN
Tuesday: RAISED
Wednesday: ABANDONED
Thursday: ABLAZE
Friday: VIVID
Saturday: ENGAGED
Each day I will give you a bit of a push in the right direction for your praying that day. Feel free to leave a comment on how your time of praying in a more kingdom manner is going. What is God showing you? How is your prayer life different this week from your normal routine? What part of the Lord's Prayer is really pressing on your soul?
SECC, let's learn to pray with Jesus and like Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4). And may His kingdom come for the honor and glory of His name!
Monday: BROKEN
Brokenness is simply embracing who you truly are before God and who God truly is before all mankind.
Pray through the Lord's Prayer today with a heavy sense of your own unworthiness and sinfulness but a grateful sense of His forgiveness and acceptance through Jesus Christ!!!
When I was nine years old God brought me to a point of brokenness. He pressed on my heart. I was very aware of my sinfulness and my need for some serious help! I remember kneeling with my Dad on at our couch and asking God, with a heart of brokenness, to save my soul.
But even today I find that I am in great need of many more brokenness sessions with my heavenly Father. I need to get on my knees daily and cry out with a heart of brokenness for a continued refreshing, reviving and renewing of my soul!
I need to sense the true state of my heart before God today because I need a new awakening of the mercy of God today.
“God makes men sensible of their misery before he reveals his mercy and love.”
Jonathan Edwards
So today as you pray - pray about the honor of God's name, the kingdom, the will of God, daily provision, forgiveness, testing, and deliverance! As you pray remember your former, and often lingering, misery in sin and the amazing mercy of God!
Have a great Monday and take advantage of the kingdom portal of prayer!
Leave a comment and join the conversation on prayer...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Disenchanted - A farity tale about love, marriage and the Kingdom of Self
Once upon a time there was a dashing prince who lived in the enchanted Kingdom of Self.
Once upon the same time there was a desirable princess who also lived in an enchanted kingdom called Self.
They did not live in the same kingdom, but in neighboring kingdoms of the same name, separated by the deep waters of Reality.
And so the story begins…
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