Category: Media

“It is good to renew ourselves from time to time by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before. For nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith than to keep ourselves by this means in humility and the exercise of all good works” (John Wesley).

To examine your soul is to reflect upon:

1. How do you speak?  Do they need to change?
2. What actions need to change?
3. What are the intentions behind your words and your actions?

In the end, the hope is that all three answers are infused and bathed in Christ.  If for some reason we have a little bit more to do, invite the Holy Spirit to change your heart so that all things belong to him.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Request:
St. Paul Community and the families who have lost loved ones over the last few weeks.

God Bless,

Steve Harper, former President of Asbury Seminary (Orlando), said that “mysteries do not yield to quick fixes and simple formulas, and sometimes they never yield at all. Prayer is no different. You can have a prayer life and choose to avoid the mysteries. Or you can include the mysteries in your praying, knowing that even when you do, some will remain.” Often we need the complexity of mystery when life doesn’t make sense.

We long for certainty that is why we crave control.  Therefore, when we can’t control our life, we struggle.  Learning to hover in the midst of mystery can lead to acceptance of things we can’t change or control.  It is here that prayer can be our biggest friend.

This week, allow God to envelop you.  Center yourself—and the things you can’t control nor understand—in the presence of the one who can.  You don’t have to understand it all to believe.  You don’t have be in control to be at peace.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Requests:
Those affected by wildfires in California
Upcoming All Saints Sunday Service, November 5, 2017

God Bless,

One of the questions I get asked often is “Is there a right or wrong way to pray?”  The short answer is “No.”  Though words are important for they convey meaning, give expression, and provide communication, when it comes to prayer, they are only part of the story.  For instance, we pray more unspoken prayers than we realize.  There are also times our words don’t match our heart’s desire.  In those cases, what is more important:  the words or our heart’s desire?  The Apostle Paul even said when words fail us, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).

Countless times when I have received horrible news about a friend, a church member, or an acquaintance, and my first thought was, “God, how can I help this person?”  Not knowing what to pray, my thoughts were only for their strength to endure.  As quick as I said, “Lord, I don’t know where to begin,” I perceived God to say, “I already know.”

Words are important but don’t get hung up on them. Eventually the words will come. Focus on your own heart—just express it to God and that will be enough.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Requests:
All those affected by the mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Hurricane relief efforts to continue
Our Country and Our Leaders
Phase I of our Building Campaign

Fred Craddock tells a story of a young female student at Emory who came into his office mystified.  She explained that she was not a Christian and had not attended church. Unfortunately, there came a time when she had reached a low point in her life and in fact had intended to commit suicide.  She had gone to a high bridge and was going to jump into the river below.  What stopped her was that suddenly as she was about to jump a verse of Scripture popped into her mind:  “My life is not my own.  I have been bought with a price.”

The young woman came and asked Dr. Craddock, the great New Testament scholar, for help and explanation to what happened to her.  Craddock asked a number of questions. “Are you sure you never attended church or read the Bible?”  She responded, “Yes, very sure.”  She then said, “Wait, there was a time, when I was a little girl, that my grandmother took me to Vacation Bible School at her church.”  Craddock asked, “Do you remember anything from that experience?”  “Only that we were asked to write out these little sentences on strips of paper and memorize them.  I guess they were Bible verses.” Craddock smiled and said, “You see, God stored that gospel word in your heart, so that one day it would save you and indeed it had.”

I don’t think any of us will ever fully know how many times God reveals himself to us.  I’m convinced we only notice a fraction; and even then, they are filtered through our experiences.  The good news is it only takes that small fraction, one simple ray of grace, that can save a life.  For that, all honor and glory belongs to God.  This week, look for the fragments of grace.  Try to see the whole canopy of love God gives to you.

 

This week’s reading:

 
Prayer Requests:
 
Those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria
Mexico City and those affected by recent earthquake
Our Country and Our Leaders