She's standing there, and she folds her hands together tightly and presses them against her chest. She then closes her eyes and begins to pray. Her heart is pounding. She's in a dire, desperate place, and she needs the Lord to come through.
"Lord, please help my Super Bowl team win!!!"
Ok, so I couldn't really see exactly what was going on in the minds and souls of the people that I saw in the stands last night on TV, but what else would have been going on inside of them when that's what they were doing? Not just the ladies, of course. I simply used a woman as an example because one in particular stands out to me. But I think I even saw some men crying!
Is God really for your team? Do you think your prayers move Him to give favor to a certain player or team in order to make them win a game? In other words, just because you want it to happen, is He gonna do it??? Or what if more people are praying for one team than are praying for the other team?
I'm being silly, of course. And I admit... while I don't PRAY for my team to win, certain games (mostly baseball, but sometimes football or basketball) get my adrenaline running, and I can feel pretty darn happy and excited when my team wins and pretty darn sad and disheartened when they lose.
But it's just a game. And I have no control over it! I've been a very casual sports fan (I really don't know if I even fit into that mild description) since I was a boy. I'll keep up with my favorite baseball team (St. Louis Cardinals) throughout the baseball season, checking the standings almost daily. I'll sit down and watch 1/3 to 1/2 of a game sometimes. I guess I become more of a fanatic at playoff time, mainly for baseball, but also sometimes for basketball and football. But ask me who won the big titles over the years, and I don't have a clue! Except the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 1982 and 2006! I remember those things!
But I never pray for my team to win, as if I think God favors my team more than the other. These people are ordinary average people, just like you and me. They're doing their jobs just like you and me. They're getting paid - not like you and me, but a whole LOT more! Haha! But really, they are no different than us. What do you think? Does God have special favor for a sports team??? Does He watch the season go by, and then waits till playoff time when people start praying for their guys, and then He decides who's gonna win??? Is it based upon the team that has the most Christians? Or the most high profile Christians?
The Arizona Cardinals shoulda won last night, because Kurt Warner was the most high profile Christian out there on the field!!! And the Cardinals used to be from my original home town, St. Louis!!! And Kurt's from the state where I've lived most of my life, Iowa!!! And he went to college just 4 miles down the road from my house!!! And at one time he sacked groceries at the Hy-Vee store that I sometimes go to!!! It's no fair!!!!!!
Hehehe! Anyway... no deep point here. It's just a game. You win some, you lose some!
Grace Roots Blog
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Monday, February 02, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Please pray for Kyle Sweet
I don't often share 'prayer requests' but for some reason I'm moved in my heart to share this one. Please click this link. Michael Sweet (lead singer of Stryper) shares a wonderful testimony about his wife, Kyle, and he asks for prayers as she battles ovarian cancer. The song below says "Free to open up - and believe; Free to simply ask - and receive." This is what Michael and his family are doing for Kyle, and I'm simply one of many who are joining in.
Stryper's music played a huge role in my life in the mid to late 80's. I was big into MTV, where I would watch all my favorites like Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Billy Idol, Adam Ant, Poison, Metallica, ZZ Top and so on and so on. I would come home from school every day and watch the top ten requested videos of the day. In the midst of all this, Stryper came on the scene with songs like Calling On You, Free and Honestly, remaining at Number 1 for weeks on end. I remember crying at times when I would hear lyrics such as "You, You make my life complete; You give me all I need; You help me through and through; I'm calling on you." I certainly wasn't getting that message from any of my friends! ;)
I knew there was something more to this life, and I believed in Jesus, but I honestly thought I had to clean up my act before I could truly come to Christ, and I just never could clean up my act. But yet among all the other music I listened to, the lyrics from the Stryper songs really kept my head up and my ears open, desiring this "peace" with God... that I would eventually find out was a free gift, not something I ever deserved or could earn.
They've still got it! Stryper - Free (live in 2004)
Free to turn away - say goodbye
Free to walk away - and deny
The gift waiting for you
Whispers a still small voice
It's your choice - you're...
Free - Free to do what you want to
Choose your own destiny
Free to do what you want to
Free to open up - and believe
Free to simply ask - and receive
There's no better time than now
You've got the right to choose
You can't lose - you're...
The original video from the 80's
Stryper's music played a huge role in my life in the mid to late 80's. I was big into MTV, where I would watch all my favorites like Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Billy Idol, Adam Ant, Poison, Metallica, ZZ Top and so on and so on. I would come home from school every day and watch the top ten requested videos of the day. In the midst of all this, Stryper came on the scene with songs like Calling On You, Free and Honestly, remaining at Number 1 for weeks on end. I remember crying at times when I would hear lyrics such as "You, You make my life complete; You give me all I need; You help me through and through; I'm calling on you." I certainly wasn't getting that message from any of my friends! ;)
I knew there was something more to this life, and I believed in Jesus, but I honestly thought I had to clean up my act before I could truly come to Christ, and I just never could clean up my act. But yet among all the other music I listened to, the lyrics from the Stryper songs really kept my head up and my ears open, desiring this "peace" with God... that I would eventually find out was a free gift, not something I ever deserved or could earn.
They've still got it! Stryper - Free (live in 2004)
Free to turn away - say goodbye
Free to walk away - and deny
The gift waiting for you
Whispers a still small voice
It's your choice - you're...
Free - Free to do what you want to
Choose your own destiny
Free to do what you want to
Free to open up - and believe
Free to simply ask - and receive
There's no better time than now
You've got the right to choose
You can't lose - you're...
The original video from the 80's
Monday, August 25, 2008
Book?
Hi friends,
I've shared with a few people over the years that the Lord has given me a desire to write a book. I've also been encouraged by a few of you to do such a thing. I've been seeking the Lord and praying about this for some time now, waiting for the right time.
I'm at a point now where it may be the right time. I've grown a lot in the past few years, and I've become pretty solid on what the concept of the potential book would be. That was never fully the case before. Anyway, through a series of events I've come to where I've arrived now, thinking I'd really like to get started on this. A lot of the busyness of summer is over, and the kids are back in school. I don't go to work until 1pm everyday, so I have my mornings 'free.' I say 'free' loosely, because with my wife and I both working full time, I do my share of things around the house, such as laundry, dishes, etc. My mornings are also generally a time when I'm more able to communicate with the friends who live in my computer! :)
But anyway, without all the noise and the distractions of "dad, dad!" all morning long (which I do miss right now - you don't know what you've got till it's gone!), I've been thinking that this is an opportune time to try to get focused.
And so I bring to you these prayer requests!
I love writing - but I'm not a very disciplined writer unless I force myself to be. I blog kind of haphazardly - which is really ok with me because I'm not trying to be deeply intellectual or deeply theological. I'm just sharing what's on my heart. If it appears intellectual or theological, it's generally by mistake... LOL... or simply because it's what's truly on my heart at the time.
However, in writing a book, I don't want to be so haphazard. Yes, I want to share my heart, but I also want it to be something that will stand the test of time. I want it to flow, and to be an easy read, and to not be "too" theological or doctrinal, while at the same time not neglecting the truth of scripture for even an instant.
I also have to say that I have always written at my best when I've been under pressure. That is, when I've had a deadline. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know! I always got A's and B's on writing assignments in school - but I always waited until the very last possible moment to begin writing. For example, I took a Human Dynamics college course about a decade ago. At the beginning of the quarter, we received an assignment that would be due at the end of the quarter. A pretty big assignment. Well, it was the Friday before the Monday that it was due, and I hadn't so much as started working on it! I worked on it the entire weekend, and I got an A! Of course, at the time we had no kids and no other major responsibilities in life like we do now, so I'm sure that helped. ;)
Like I said, I'm not a disciplined writer unless I have to be! In writing 20 monthly articles for my church between 2005 and 2007, I worked well when I knew the articles were due. I say all this to say that as of right now, I don't have a "deadline" for writing a book. So... it's very easy for me, if I'm not feeling disciplined to write or concentrate for a length of time, to put it off till another time.
Also, one major difference between blogging and writing a book is that blogging generally involves one "topic" at a time. Same with writing an article. That makes it pretty easy for me to do. But with writing a book, there's a "bigger picture" involved, and all the individual paragraphs and chapters need to sort of flow to make up the big picture. Like I said, I have the big picture in mind, but breaking it down into sections and chapters, especially ones that make some sort of sense when they're put together, seems kind of overwhelming to me. My thought, and something my brother suggested to me a couple of months ago, is to come up with some sort general description of the book, and then a brief outline that breaks it all into sections/chapters.
I'm sure that will be of great help. I'll just say that I've always hated outlines! I see their purpose and benefit, but I hate doing them!
I think what I'm trying to say is that writing a full book involves a lot of planning and thinking... and of course, work, and I'm asking for your prayers in putting all of this together! Throughout all of this, I'm keeping in the forefront of my mind and heart that this is Father's work, not mine. It involves the physical and mental work and concentration of my body and mind, but it's Father who's doing it in and through me.
I would also ask that if anyone has any experience, advice, tips or suggestions that might help in this process, feel free to share them with me, either in the comments section or through email (my email address is on the side of the blog).
Thanks so much! The message of God's grace has obviously forever changed my life. I've learned a great deal, and I'm always continuing to learn, and my hope is to keep passing on the message of truth and grace that sets people free.
I've shared with a few people over the years that the Lord has given me a desire to write a book. I've also been encouraged by a few of you to do such a thing. I've been seeking the Lord and praying about this for some time now, waiting for the right time.
I'm at a point now where it may be the right time. I've grown a lot in the past few years, and I've become pretty solid on what the concept of the potential book would be. That was never fully the case before. Anyway, through a series of events I've come to where I've arrived now, thinking I'd really like to get started on this. A lot of the busyness of summer is over, and the kids are back in school. I don't go to work until 1pm everyday, so I have my mornings 'free.' I say 'free' loosely, because with my wife and I both working full time, I do my share of things around the house, such as laundry, dishes, etc. My mornings are also generally a time when I'm more able to communicate with the friends who live in my computer! :)
But anyway, without all the noise and the distractions of "dad, dad!" all morning long (which I do miss right now - you don't know what you've got till it's gone!), I've been thinking that this is an opportune time to try to get focused.
And so I bring to you these prayer requests!
I love writing - but I'm not a very disciplined writer unless I force myself to be. I blog kind of haphazardly - which is really ok with me because I'm not trying to be deeply intellectual or deeply theological. I'm just sharing what's on my heart. If it appears intellectual or theological, it's generally by mistake... LOL... or simply because it's what's truly on my heart at the time.
However, in writing a book, I don't want to be so haphazard. Yes, I want to share my heart, but I also want it to be something that will stand the test of time. I want it to flow, and to be an easy read, and to not be "too" theological or doctrinal, while at the same time not neglecting the truth of scripture for even an instant.
I also have to say that I have always written at my best when I've been under pressure. That is, when I've had a deadline. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know! I always got A's and B's on writing assignments in school - but I always waited until the very last possible moment to begin writing. For example, I took a Human Dynamics college course about a decade ago. At the beginning of the quarter, we received an assignment that would be due at the end of the quarter. A pretty big assignment. Well, it was the Friday before the Monday that it was due, and I hadn't so much as started working on it! I worked on it the entire weekend, and I got an A! Of course, at the time we had no kids and no other major responsibilities in life like we do now, so I'm sure that helped. ;)
Like I said, I'm not a disciplined writer unless I have to be! In writing 20 monthly articles for my church between 2005 and 2007, I worked well when I knew the articles were due. I say all this to say that as of right now, I don't have a "deadline" for writing a book. So... it's very easy for me, if I'm not feeling disciplined to write or concentrate for a length of time, to put it off till another time.
Also, one major difference between blogging and writing a book is that blogging generally involves one "topic" at a time. Same with writing an article. That makes it pretty easy for me to do. But with writing a book, there's a "bigger picture" involved, and all the individual paragraphs and chapters need to sort of flow to make up the big picture. Like I said, I have the big picture in mind, but breaking it down into sections and chapters, especially ones that make some sort of sense when they're put together, seems kind of overwhelming to me. My thought, and something my brother suggested to me a couple of months ago, is to come up with some sort general description of the book, and then a brief outline that breaks it all into sections/chapters.
I'm sure that will be of great help. I'll just say that I've always hated outlines! I see their purpose and benefit, but I hate doing them!
I think what I'm trying to say is that writing a full book involves a lot of planning and thinking... and of course, work, and I'm asking for your prayers in putting all of this together! Throughout all of this, I'm keeping in the forefront of my mind and heart that this is Father's work, not mine. It involves the physical and mental work and concentration of my body and mind, but it's Father who's doing it in and through me.
I would also ask that if anyone has any experience, advice, tips or suggestions that might help in this process, feel free to share them with me, either in the comments section or through email (my email address is on the side of the blog).
Thanks so much! The message of God's grace has obviously forever changed my life. I've learned a great deal, and I'm always continuing to learn, and my hope is to keep passing on the message of truth and grace that sets people free.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Be strong in the Lord
Eph 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
How do we take our stand against the devil's schemes (or "wiles of the devil" - KJV)?
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
All of this is worth spending some time with and meditating upon. Not religiously, of course, but as part of our full-on relationship with the one who supplies us with the power in all this! Some people call this "spiritual warfare," I think mostly because of the imagery of armor and battle gear that Paul uses. But when it's all boiled down, it's simply a matter of a few basic truths that will help us overcome the evil one - who, as Peter says, is an adversary "who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Peter goes on to say "resist him, steadfast in the faith..." And the "armor" Paul talks about in verses 14-17 of the above passage includes:
• Truth
• Righteousness
• The Gospel of Peace
• Faith
• Salvation
• The Word of God
Earlier this year, I broke some of this down in three separate posts, if you're interested in checking any of it out.
The Full Armor of God
God's armor 1-3
God's armor 4-6
And don't forget that in our relationship with God we have the wonderful privilege to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" and we can "be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." :)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
How do we take our stand against the devil's schemes (or "wiles of the devil" - KJV)?
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
All of this is worth spending some time with and meditating upon. Not religiously, of course, but as part of our full-on relationship with the one who supplies us with the power in all this! Some people call this "spiritual warfare," I think mostly because of the imagery of armor and battle gear that Paul uses. But when it's all boiled down, it's simply a matter of a few basic truths that will help us overcome the evil one - who, as Peter says, is an adversary "who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Peter goes on to say "resist him, steadfast in the faith..." And the "armor" Paul talks about in verses 14-17 of the above passage includes:
• Truth
• Righteousness
• The Gospel of Peace
• Faith
• Salvation
• The Word of God
Earlier this year, I broke some of this down in three separate posts, if you're interested in checking any of it out.
The Full Armor of God
God's armor 1-3
God's armor 4-6
And don't forget that in our relationship with God we have the wonderful privilege to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" and we can "be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." :)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Pray for one another
I was just sitting here having a quiet time all to myself this evening and I began praying for a certain individual. I then began praying for a few more people individually by name and then for a lot more people in general, including those I know personally and those I know from the online world. I wasn't praying for health or finances. I wasn't praying for God's leading, guidance or direction in any certain area of anyone's life. Not that I never pray that way. But tonight as I began to pray I was reminded of a passage in Ephesians in which Paul talked about how he prayed for the saints in Ephesus. This is the type of prayer we can always pray for one another.
Eph 1:15-21
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
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