Praying Together

Abba, I thank you for each of us.

You have allowed us to touch and be touched by each other in various ways. We have met and come to know you better. I thank you for their gifts and anointing. You have gifted us differently but yet we are connected as a part of your body. I acknowledge my need of them and thank for their part, no matter how small they may think it is. I thank you for those who choose to be quiet and at a distance. They are important to you no matter where they are located. 

Comfort those who struggle because of their location or position. May they know you are present, not just watching. Remind them of their value to you and whole body. Grant them a friend or someone who be near to them. Someday may they know the important role they have played in your work and kingdom. For those who are close to 'giving up,' grant a move of your Spirit that holds them close to your breast. As their tears flow, and anger fills their heart, remind them, "I see you," as you did Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21:9 - 13. Comfort their hearts.

Bless their work this week, because you have appointed them to it. You promised never to leave us or forsake us. We are all in this together. "Come thou Fount of Every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for sings of loudest praise... "

I love you Jesus, thank you for loving me first.This I pray in Jesus name. AMEN!

T.A.B.

Unforgiveness

Someone has said, "forgiveness is like drinking poison and wishing the other person will get sick."

Praying together on Monday

Abba, I thank for that feeling of being tired, it indicates that I've been at work, that something, no matter how small is or has been attempted for your Kingdom. I can't always see the result of our efforts and sometimes wonder what's being accomplished. You remind me, "I'm am with you . . . " Thanks for the reminder. 

Help me as I reach out to help those who need it; to sit with and weep those who mourn; and try to comfort those who hearts would seem to break under the load of life. I thank you for those few who 'get me," and those who try to understand but can't. Thank you for taking me aside and listening to my complaints and questions. Thank you for your silence, for ever there will you hand find me. You are the God who see's me, alone by the bush outside the camp sent away like Hagar to die in the wilderness. Yet even there does your Spirit find me and refreshes me.'

I thank you for dreams you've given, yet seem to far beyond my ability to accomplish, they are from you, but you expect me to believe and trust you fro the result. You never expected me to 'get the job done, by or in my own abilities. Come Holy Spirit do your best work, in my present situation; work with hat I have at hand and trust you for I don't. Thank you for being 'more than enough!" 

I thank you for these my brothers and sisters, who like me have those moments when I question, WHY? Grant us strength to continue the struggle, for helping us to learn the lesson of the ditch, and accept you hand as you lead us out of the ditch. Thank you for the lessons learned in the ditch. I thank you that you're not done with me and us yet. One day soon you will say to us all, ". . . well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord . . ." 

This I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,Amen!

Love ya,  

-- 

T.A.B.

Praying together on Monday . . .

Father, I thank you for who you called us to be, your sons and daughters, children of the most high God. We may have begun our lives as those who that world didn't think very much of because of where we were born, our lack of educational opportunity or social status. You didn't allow that or anything else to prevent you from loving and caring for me. You provided someone, your own Son for those whom the world didn't think much of or cared for, that we might have the greatest gift, everlasting life in Your presence. 

Thank you for struggle, for by it we are made strong; thank you for sharing our pain; thank you for reminding me that we are important to you and have a real purpose for our living. Thank you for calling us into your service, while I wonder just were I fit and question my ability, You who know me best, reassure me that our place is next to your heart.Your Spirit is guiding our foot steps; you there to catch me when I fall. There are moments when you remind me, I prevented your fall, I held you up with my strong right hand.

Bless our week, the meetings, the reading, the prep work that must be done to get us ready for the next whatever. Remember our families, our wives and husbands, and yes, for those of us, who must lead a family alone, grant us grace to trust you as we struggle alone. Lord, bless our children, we can't be with them in their struggles and battles, but Your Spirit is present. May they be reminded of the word spoken yesterday and in those days before; your ability to deal with those who want to hurt them of trying to make them feel inferior.

And finally Lord, for those of us who are called to lead, in whatever role we serve, give us Your grace to know the way, when ther is no road map or guide. Give us strength to deal with our own frustrations, those who are short-sighted or 'near-sighted' seeing only their own desires and plans. We're Yours Lord, THANK YOU for that fact; for your hope alive within us, 

In Jesus name, Amen!  

Who's Your Daddy?

I take no credit for what follows, but it was just too good to allow it to be read and not passed along:

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg , Tennessee .

One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to
enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they
noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to
table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to
his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did
come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

' Oklahoma ,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said... 'What do you do
for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really
great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat
down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great.. Just what I
need.... another preacher story!'


The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant
window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an
unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he
was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who's your daddy?' Whether he
was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same
question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students.. He would avoid
going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about
12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late
and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got
caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing
anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's
your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church
looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question,
'Who's your daddy?'

This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using
discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that
scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family
resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a
great inheritance.. Go and claim it.'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out
the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody
asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God..''


The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a
great story?'

The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't
told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have
amounted to anything!' And he walked away..

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress
over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left
that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him.

That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee!'

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's
children!


And all of God's people said, Amen!

The Greatest Fringe Benefit – R. T. Kendell

From this mornings (8/24/11) devotional.

The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever. Psalm 121:5 – 8

Have you ever been in a situation where you have thought, I wish somebody could see what is happening to me right now? Or maybe something good has happened to you, but there is no one to share it with.

The great fringe benefit of being a Christian is found in psalm 121:5: “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand.” Do you know what that tells me? It assures me of God’s very presence. It is the most wonderful thing to realize that our heavenly Father is there. And there will come a time, if you develop the relationship with Him that is available to you, when His attention will mean more to you than anything.

The psalmist said in Psalm 16:8, “because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” This means that God promises us Himself. Not only are we assured of going to heaven, but the greatest thing of all is that Jesus says to us, “You’ve got Me! I am with you always, even to the end. I will never leave you or forsake you.” There is nothing more wonderful than knowing that we have Him.

True, you know that you will go to heaven when you die. But when you become a Christian God didn’t just shake your hand and say, “Well done; see you in heaven!” No, He says, “I will be with you. I will see everything that is going on, your coming in and your going, both now and forever more.” 

Something I need to remember with regard to MISTAKES

M essages that give us feedback about life.

I nterruptions that should cause us to reflect and think.

S ignposts that direct us to the right path.

T ests that push us toward greater maturity.

A wakenings that keep us in the game mentally.

K eys that we can use to unlock the next door of opportunity.

E xplorations that let us journey where we’ve never been before.

S tatements about our development and progress.

Dr. John C. Maxwell