Key weapons in the war
Posted on February 22, 2012 by Pastor Tom
I once heard a preacher say “I think Ephesians 6:12 is the most disbelieved verse in the Bible.” What do you think? Read Ephesians 6:10–20. Notice the role God’s Word and prayer play in the battle. • Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to “take up the whole armor of God” each day.
Keep Praying
Posted on November 10, 2011 by Pastor Tom
A lot of verses in the Bible disturb me. Like Ephesians 5:20 “Always give thanks to God the Father FOR everything.” Not in everything – for everything. Or 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray continually.
I don’t have time for that! I have work to do, kids to parent, bills to pay and places to go. Except I don’t think this verse is specifically talking about settling down in our prayer chair or going to a chapel and spending all our waking hours staying there in prayer.
I think he means wherever we are and whatever we’re doing, prayer can be part of it. Pray while driving (with your eyes open if you’re the one driving!). Pray while walking – before a test – in the middle of a conversation – when someone is going through surgery – just before bed – as soon as you wake up – talk to God. Talk to your constant companion Jesus. Lift up anyone and anything to the Lord; continually.
We need to keep at it folks! Please join me in that continual prayer for our church family, community and world.
Why Pray?
Posted on October 14, 2011 by Pastor Tom
There’s a lot of people needing prayer in and connected to our church family right now. It can be at times be overwhelming to hear about the needs and try to process all that’s going on. Someone recently asked me “how do you handle all this stuff as a pastor?” Early in ministry I might have said “well you just work harder and try to be of good use.” But now I would answer “I don’t handle it all. I can’t handle it all. But I can offer it up to the Lord to handle.” Prayer is so critical when people go through stuff.
Can you think of anything more “useful” than bringing someone else before our Loving and All-powerful God with His eternal resources?
I love what Paul says to the Corinthians in his second letter:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
May God guide your prayers to who needs them the most.
Prayer. Burden? Joy? Guilt Producer?
Posted on March 3, 2011 by Pastor Tom
So this weekend I’m talking about prayer. I’ve had an interesting journey of prayer. Sometimes, I love it. Sometimes I struggle with it. Sometimes it feels like I’m just going through the motions. But I have to remember, prayer is not the be all and end all. It’s the One I’m praying to. He is the be all and end all. Prayer is our way to communicate with Him. So I need, we need to see prayer not as some duty to get over with but the way we connect with the Our dearest and most powerful Lord and Friend. Maybe looking at it that way can help transform prayer from some burden to something joyous. If you have any stories about your journey with prayer, please share. We all need to keep learning.