Prayer 101

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

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I think we all to often under estimate the power of prayer. Maybe it is because we have prayed and some of those prayers have gone unanswered. If you have ever had a prayer go unanswered then I suggest you look at your relationship with God. Think about it like this, how much more likely are you to get something from someone you know then from a total stranger. Even more than that if the person is close to you like a parent or a best friend what are the odds of them giving you what you need? What I'm saying is that God wants a relationship with us and when we have that relationship we can come to him with our needs.

But wait there's more. Jesus teaches us that prayer is a result of a relationship with the Father and includes a commitment to obedience. He tells his disciples in the book of John that if they do what he has been doing, then He will answer their prayers. So as we can see our prayers have stipulations. Here are some steps that I use to pray.

Step 1 - I make sure my relationship with Him is right. If it is not then I need to repent and ask for forgiveness.

"I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin" Psalm 38:18

Step 2 - I think about what it is that I am praying for and ask myself if it is something that would glorify Him.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Step 3 - I start my prayer with thanksgiving. I thank Him for the blessings I already have in my life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Philippians 4:6

Step 4 - I present my request with humility.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray..."

2 Chronicles 7:14a

Step 5 - I thank Him in advance for His response.

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart... Psalm 9:1a

Step 6 - I acknowledge the reason I am able to pray to Him. "In Jesus' name I pray" Because of his sacrifice we are able to present our prayers directly to God the Father.

I hope this helps you in your prayer life. May God bless you and answer the prayers of your heart. Have a great weekend and see you Sunday.

The Healing Truth

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15

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I have a great truth to share with you today. It's the truth that faithful prayers really do get answered. The book of James tells us "prayers offered in faith will make the sick person well". Here is the proof.

The other day my son and I were shopping at a local grocery store when I ran into a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while. Let me stop here and tell you that God had put this man on my heart a couple of weeks ago and at that time I had no idea why. We started to talk and I could tell something was bothering him. Sometime a while back, this friend had gone through some test and the results were not good. He told me that he was going back to the Doctor for more test the next day and that he was scared what the results might show. I asked him to read James and pray and that I would also be praying for him. As we were leaving the store, my son turned to me and said that we needed to pray for him at dinner. When we got home and sat down to dinner I asked Josh if he remembered what we were supposed to do. He smiled and said, "We need to pray for your friend." So that's exactly what we did. I prayed for him that night and when I woke up the next morning. Around lunch time, I received a call from my friend. The results were in and it was great news. In fact, the problems that were there before were even gone. Praise be to God!!!

I tell this story not to boast, but to encourage you to lay your problems at the foot of the cross and pray with faith. Here is a warning, if God chooses not to answer a prayer or not answer it in the way you think He should, remember your ways are not his ways. I lost my brother two years ago and I could have been mad at God and walked away from my faith, but I chose to trust that God knows best. Don't allow unanswered prayers lead you away.

Have a great weekend and keep the faith!

Set Apart

Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
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As Christians what sets us apart from others, or maybe the better question is what should set us apart? The answer is love. As I was preparing to write this blog, I came across an old note book and flipped through it. Written on the back of one the pages was a little note from a former student with their name and the words “loves you.” Those two little words warmed my heart and almost brought a tear to my eye. You see it makes such a difference in someone’s life when they know that there are people who love and care about them.

When I looked up the word love in my concordance there were hundreds of verses that used the word love or some form of it. Of course it’s used in probably the most famous verse of the bible, John 3:16, but it is also used several times when Jesus gives instructions to his followers. In John 15:17 Jesus says, “This is my command: Love each other.” What would this world look like if all of God’s children loved Him and each other unconditionally? I believe that we wouldn’t need the other eight commandments. I mean who could commit murder against or lie to someone they love with the kind of love God shows us.

If you want the best definition of love and what it should look like then turn to 1 Corinthians 13. These verses paint a picture of what true love should look like. This kind of love is hard to grasp. I struggle to love those around me. I mean it’s easy to love those who love you, but the bible tells us that even unbelievers do that. So here is my challenge to you: read 1 Corinthians 13, then live a life that sets you apart.

Putting it into Action

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead"
James 2:17
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So most of you know that Illuminate Students spent last week at Seesalt. The reason we chose this camp was because it encompassed two things, the traditional youth camp along with mission work. One of my convictions as a Christian is that we show our faith by helping others. I don't want Illuminate to be about four walls or be a place to hang out with friends and just play. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with worshiping at the church or having fellowship with friends. Those two things are fine, but Illuminate is more than that. It's about serving those around us and teaching students what faith in action is all about.

Last week our mission project was to paint a house for a women who had eight children and lived in a single-wide trailer. I don't think any of us expected to see what we saw when we got there. The windows were all broken and they used blankets to keep the little bit of cold air they had inside. The roof leaked so bad that they had to put the mattresses outside after it rained so they could dry out. We were only prepared to paint, so we didn't have the tools to do much else. So paint we did. We tend to think about poverty as something you see in a third world country, but its right down the street. The team did an awesome job and what we were able to accomplish made a huge difference.

I challenged the students by asking them this one question. Would we be doing this if it weren't for opening up our conference schedules and seeing: 10:30 - 3:30 mission site? God gave us a 'conference schedule' and it says things like care for those in need and loves others. But there are no time limits is His schedule. He expects us to do these things anytime and anywhere. Take time to think about the people around you. Are you loving them as you should? Are you caring for those in need? Do you take for granted the things God has given you? I challenge you to ask yourself 'what can I do today, the next day, the day after that and so on, to show God's love to those around me?'.

It's What's on the Inside That Counts

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Matthew 23: 25-28

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The bible tells us that even if we sin in our minds, we have broken the law. That has been the hardest part of my life in Christ to deal with. We have all had times in our lives when we have thought un-pure thoughts, times when we say things like 'I wish he where dead' or times when we just didn't care what God thought about us. It's natural to think like this, isn't it? Only in our human nature. But God's plan for our lives begin from inside.

Several years ago, when I started my relationship with Christ, I listened to a song that talked about how people live their Christianity on the outside by acting churchy, wearing the christian t-shirts and displaying the bumper stickers that say things like 'I Love Jesus'. But what God really wants is what's inside. We pray for salvation and we ask God into our hearts, we don't ask God to hangout and clean our exterior. I think one of the biggest faults in the modern church is that we tend to look at what is on the outside and not the heart. Here is the kicker. The outside can easily mask what you are really like inside.

The bottom line is this, we can clean up the outside, but if we don't allow Christ to change the inside, what are we really doing? Are we living a good enough life to get to heaven or are we just trying to fool those around us? Don't get me wrong, living out your faith in front of people is not a bad thing at all, but we must make sure that we are right with Him first. You see when James says "Faith without deeds is dead", he is saying that if we truly have faith in Jesus and we allow him to be Lord over our lives, then the deeds will follow.

Here is the challenge for us straight from the apostle Paul, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." (2 Corinthians 13:5-6, NIV) Take a good look at your life and ask yourselves, am I putting on an act or am I really living for Christ?

Take a Look Around You

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what was made, so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 NIV

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Friday was my day. The one day a week I was responsible for posting on this blog. I let the world step in and stop me from doing it anymore. Let me explain. I used to get really excited about writing blogs, thinking that my students would go on the blog every Friday and read what God had put on my heart and maybe, just maybe, even get something useful out of it. On Wednesday nights I would ask the students if anyone read the blog this week. Dead silence and blank stares would follow my question. It was kind of discouraging. I allowed that discouragement coupled with laziness to say to myself it's not worth it.

Over the past several months I have been doing some self evaluation of my life and ministry. I turned 40 last week and instead of going through a typical mid-life crisis, I have decided to reinvent myself. When I was writing the blog I would spend time on Friday mornings with the radio off in the car and I would drive to work in complete silence waiting for God to put something on my heart to talk about. When I would get to work, I would pull out my Bible and read. I used this blog as a journal for reading God's word and then reflecting on what I read. When I stopped I realized that Fridays had become more about me than God. I found myself thinking about the weekend and what I was going to do. The radio doesn't get turned down and the Bible doesn't get read. Now I can look back and realize that the blog was never about the students, it was about keeping me accountable for being in God's word. Don't get me wrong I would love for everyone to read and get something out of this, but if they don't, then that's OK. I'm writing for God, not me.

I recently went on vacation with my family to Myrtle Beach and every morning I would walk down to the beach and spend time just looking out over the ocean and thanking God for who he is and what he has given me. I would say good morning to my brother as I walked past the sand dunes where some of his ashes were spread and then I would just stare at the ocean. I would stand in awe of its beauty and power as the waves would crash on shore. Then it dawned on me that I am just like the sand that I was standing on, just a tiny piece of God's creation.

While at the beach I decided to go to the bookstore and find a book to read. I came across a book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love". I started reading the back cover and it said exactly what I needed to hear. That even though I felt like a tiny part of his creation God's love for me was greater than anything imaginable. Needless to say I bought the book and started reading it. Chapter one was entitled "Stop Praying" wait, what? That doesn't sound like something a pastor would say. He talks about taking time to stop talking at God and step back and just take in his creation and realize how big his love is for you. We can't understand how to love until we grasp the meaning of his love. I recommend this book to everyone and I challenge anyone who is reading this to take some time this weekend to stop and just take it all in. Go somewhere secluded and take in God's creation and wait for him to talk to you.

I want a Resolution

"Come in and know me better man."

Ghost of Christmas Present

Muppet Christmas Carrol

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One of my family's favorite traditions during Christmas is to watch the Muppet Christmas Carrol. We've watched it for several years now and it just keeps getting funnier. I was reminded of a quote from the movie on my way to work this morning (yeah you heard me right, work). Anyway the quote comes during a scene when Scrooge is haunted by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The ghost utters the phrase "Come in and know me better man" several times during this scene. The reason it came to me today was because I was thinking about New Years resolutions. Stay with me here. You see I have always wondered what would be a good resolution. I have tried the loose weight thing and the eat healthier thing, even though those are good things to resolve to do, I think this year my biggest resolve will be to "come in and know Him better man". God has given us a beautiful book that explains everything about Him. When I think of coming in, I think of opening His word and spending quality time getting to know what He is about and what he wants from my life. New year's day is a time to think about what He has in store for you in 2010 and what He has done for you in 2009.

When I think about the words new year, it reminds me of a time when God made all things new to me. The time when he found me and rescued me from this world. You see like many of you I thought I knew about God and what He was about. I grew up going to church and learning about Jesus and all those good bible stories. But I didn't realize until much later in life that He didn't want me to just know the story, He wanted me to live it. When I came to that realization, I surrendered my heart to Jesus and vowed to make him lord of my life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" That is what happened for me. He took my old self and my old ways and replaced them with His ways. My prayer for you this day is that you to will Come in and Know Him better.