Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Little Tent

David McCasland shares with us that, "During evangelist Billy Graham's historic 1949 Los Angeles campaign, the big tent that held over 6,000 people was filled to overflowing every night for 8 weeks.

Close by was a smaller tent set aside for counseling and prayer.

Cliff Barrows, longtime music director and close friend and associate of Graham, has often said that the real work of the gospel took place in "the little tent," where people gathered on their knees to pray before and during every evangelistic service.


Pearl Goode, was the heart of those prayer meetings and many that followed.

in the apostle Paul's letter to the followers of Christ in Colosse, he assured them that he and his colleagues were praying always for them Co. 1:3,9.

In closing he mentioned Epaphras, a founder of the Colossian church, who is "always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" 4:12.

Some people are given the high visibility task of preaching the gospel in 'the big tent.' But God has extended to us all, just as He did to Epaphras and Pearl Goode, the great privilege of kneeling in 'the little tent' and bringing others before the throne of God."  David McCasland


"They labor well who intercede
For others with a pressing need;
It's on their knees they often work
And from its rigor will not shirk." D. DeHaan

"Prayer is not preparation for the work, it is the work."
—Oswald Chambers

Our Daily Bread  1/16/14


Let’s pray:

   Father, now that we realize our part in praying for others, we want to become more involved.

   Show me ways to be a part of what's going on in my church. 

   May I remember what caused the 8-weeks of revival in 1949, and aim to do my part in bringing revival to my area.

   Cause me to be available for times of prayer for meetings I am aware of that have the emphasis of winning and discipling souls. 

   May they be effective in drawing folks to Jesus as Savior and Lord. In His Precious Name I pray, Amen.  

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 10:17 "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear."

Today’s quotes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer - “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”

Dawn Mooring Our mission field is every place our feet take us – domestic or foreign soil. Look for the faces and places as divine assignments from our Creator.”

Some thoughts today: We're not to live phony lives, but to be honest with God. We're to ask for His favor in our finances, for open doors of opportunity, and that He will close doors He doesn't want us going through. 

- Eph. Chapters 1-3 give instruction as to who we are in Christ, and what we have received through our salvation. Chapters 4-6 tell us how we are to live our Christian life.

- Our lives, the way we live, should be an example of our life in Christ. We're to not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord it. We need a big Jesus in us, which is the abiding Presence of His Holy Spirit.

4/1st- Tuesday's post:  #71  Results  of a Poor Choice  C. Peter Wagner

3rd- Thursday's post:  #72  Replacing the False Intercessor  C. Peter Wagner

5th-  Saturday's post:  Looking...Fixing...Focusing  Morna Gilbert

6th-  Sunday's post:  Tears to Joy  Tammie Johnson

A popular post: Living Temples that Carry Glory: Prayer Note #86  Dutch Sheets - "What many believers are not aware of is that we are filled with the very glory and light of God. 



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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Releasing Secrets, Restoring Hope


Gwen Smith shares with us, "For years my abortion story went untold. 

It was a secret held tightly by a locked heart - my worst nightmare and darkest memory. Not something I wanted to talk about. 

Certainly not a story that I thought could be used for good.

Conversationally, it was unapproachable… simply impossible to discuss. 

On the rare occasion when I allowed my mind to go there, I wished I had a different story: one of life, not death – of joy, not pain. A story of a time when I’d made the best choice, not the worst choice.

But that’s not my story.

And because it’s not, for years I was convinced that my mistakes demanded silence. That because of what I’d done and where I’d been, I was bound to be quiet whenever the sacred topic of life arose. 

Certainly, I had no right to speak… or so I believed. Shame buttoned my lips.

Then I came to know a deeper grace. A grace found in the testimony of redemption. God’s grace. A grace that testifies of hope, healing and restoration. 

A grace found in the sharing and releasing of my broken heart-places. Amazing grace that boasts in the truth that all things can work together for good to those who love God and who are bound to His will and purpose (Romans 8:28).

By the grace of Jesus Christ, I now understand that – knowing what I know and having been where I’ve been – I am actually uniquely qualified to speak and encourage others toward life… forgiveness… and hope.

A few years ago, the Lord led me to participate in a post-abortive Bible study and a weekend retreat that allowed my heart to experience healing in places that I didn’t even know were wounded. 

I was given the opportunity to sift through my grief, to name my child, and to honor her tragic, unlived life in a beautiful memorial service. My story is now one of healing – and I will tell it until I take my last breath and meet my precious baby in heaven.

HEALING

For those of you who share my broken story, I encourage you toward this sacred healing – toward deeper grace. Death’s grip is suffocating and scary… but it’s not more powerful than the forgiveness and love found in Jesus. 

Don’t allow fear and shame to keep you from the restoration that God longs for you to experience. Call your local pregnancy care center and ask about their post-abortive Bible studies and retreats.

COURAGE

For those of you who are pregnant and afraid, I encourage you to choose life.

I know the fears you are facing and the doubts that are screaming relentlessly to your heart. Silence them with the hope found in the center of grace.

Whatever this looks like for you – whether it’s parenting or adoption – I implore you, from the deepest recesses of my heart, to allow your baby a chance to breathe, love, laugh and live. It will be one of the best choices you will ever make.

SUPPORT 

For those of you who don’t share my story, but who support the efforts of life-affirming ministries on the front lines of this battle, I encourage you toward generous giving. I applaud you for your participation. 

Because of you, lives are being saved… and diapers are being changed… and dreams are being dreamed… and God is being honored. Because of your support, sacred hearts are beating. Thank you. 

A thousand times: thank you.

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20b-21)

Let’s Pray

   Dear God, with a trembling heart, I approach Your throne of grace today in reverence and humility, fully aware that You are holy and I am not. Speak, Lord. Show me the plans You have for me. 

   Bind me to Your Word and to Your strength so I will have the courage to obey, to forgive and to accept forgiveness. May my brokenness be restored for the beauty of Your glory. Please help me to trust your plan and grace. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen."

Today’s Truth

"Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."(Psalm 34:5, NIV)

January 24, 2014
Releasing Secrets, Restoring Hope (Used by permission)
Gwen Smith

(Google images added)

Speaker / Author / Worship Leader / Songwriter
Inspiring Women To Live Fully in Grace and Truth 
Co-founder of Girlfriends in God

MY WEBSITE: www.GwenSmith.net
Do you have a comment about today's message? Please email either Gwen  Gwen@GwenSmith.net or me at jowildflowers@gmail.com

Today’s quotes: Mary Southerland – “One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to resurrect buried sin. Wrapping that confessed transgression in his vain taunts and useless accusations, the enemy hauls it back into focus, hoping that guilt will paralyze and imprison a soul set free. Satan can hold us prisoner if we let him. 

But how often do we believe his empty lies – and by doing so, grant him access to that which he has no right? To break the hold of sin, we can and must stand against the enemy. We cannot trust our feelings, but we can trust God’s Word, which is unchanging and crystal clear – when we confess sin, God forgives it.”

Beth Moore - "We certainly don't want to march into our futures carrying the baggage of our pasts, but God forbid we'd walk away from our mistakes empty -handed. What we need is a baggage exchange. We need to drop off our destructive, heavy baggage at the foot of the cross then tarry there for healing until God loads us with treasures to carry into our futures."

(Taken from THE PATRIARCHS Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pg 197, in the ninth lesson, A Fragile Band of brothers.)

Some thoughts today: We are motivated by desires and giftings which God has given us. Our heart tends to take over and offer alternatives to God's plan for using these desires and giftings in everyday life. 

- As Christians, we must read His Word daily to keep aware of His plan for us, to be pleasing to Him, and to be effective in the Kingdom's work.

30th- Sunday’s post:  The Little Tent  Dave McCasland

4/1st Tuesday's post:  #71  Results of a Poor Choice  C. Peter Wagner

3rd- Thursday's post:  #72  Replacing the False Intercessors  C. Peter Wagner

5th- Saturday's post:  Looking...Fixing...Focusing  Morna Gilbert


A popular post:  Take His Hand  Linda M Hill gives us this poem she wrote:

"When the way is dark and lonely 
When you've walked your last mile 
When the shadows gather around you 
And you've forgotten how to smile..."


Let's be faithful in praying
 for our church leaders!


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Thursday, March 27, 2014

#70 Recruiting Prayer Partners

C. Peter Wagner wants us to 
understand the importance of choosing
prayer partners that are a help, not a
hindrance. 

"This may be the most vital chapter of the book, (PRAYER SHIELD), for many pastors and other Christian leaders who desire to see the power of personal intercession begin to flow through their lives and ministries.

Satan is not ignorant of the threat that intercession for pastors poses to his evil plans.

He wants to mess up pastors and neutralize their spiritual influence in their churches and their communities to the highest degree possible.

Intercessors, particularly the kind I have been describing, set back the enemy's work in a definite way wherever they go into action.

A well-known tactic the devil has all-too-skillfully employed in the past is to manipulate pastors into making poor choices of prayer partners.

This can and does short-circuit receiving personal intercession in two ways.

The first way the enemy uses to discourage intercession is to cause pastors to choose wrong intercessors who end up doing them more harm than good.

This is bad enough in itself, but it also leads to the second tactic. 

One bad experience can cause a pastor not only to give up on the concept altogether, but even to move from there and teach others that it is unwise.

One prominent leader I know rejected personal intercession for himself for years.

He taught many of his followers to reject it until recently God brought him into a close relationship with an intercessor who had high integrity and who caused him to change his mind."


#70  Recruiting Prayer Partners, in the 
series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s 
book, PRAYER SHIELDHow to 
intercede for pastors, Christian leaders 
and others on the spiritual frontlines.
(pgs.
139 & 140) by Regal Books


Let’s pray:


   Father, when we pray for our pastors and leaders, may we be careful to pray in earnest for them.

   May our own motives be laid aside, and may we be concerned that they be lead by Your Spirit to accomplish Your will and way for using them.

   I desire to be an effective prayer partner for my pastor and leaders, Lord. Help me sense their needs at hand.

   I ask this in Christ's precious Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse:  1 Chron. 4:10a "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coasts."

Today’s quote: Max Lucado – ‘Scripture often describes our behavior as the clothes we wear. Peter urges us to be “clothed with humility” 1 Peter 5:5 NKJV. David speaks of evil people who clothe themselves “with cursing” Ps. 109:18 NKJV. Garments can symbolize character, and like his garment, Jesus’ character was seamless. Coordinated. Unified. He was like his robe: uninterrupted perfection.”

Some thoughts today: You can get saved, but there will come a time for full surrender.

- God's Word still burns in our bones! It is equipping and empowering!

- You can do what God tells you to do, or He can make you do it. It's your choice.

29th- Saturday’s post:  Releasing Secrets, Restoring Hope  Gwen Smith

30th- Sunday's post:  The Little Tent  Dave McCasland

4/1 Tuesday's post:  #71  Results of a Poor Choice  C. Peter Wagner

3rd- Thursday's post:  #72  Replacing the False Intercessor  C. Peter Wagner


A popular post: The Lightning Anointing: Prayer Note #84  Dutch Sheets continues, “Yes, at the Cross the counterfeit 'angle of light' met Mr. Light himself and nothing has been the same since!"



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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse 
My book in paperback $7.95 (Check out the
Reviews on the Kindle page of my book)

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Counseling, & Help) (Volume 1)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

#69 Aarons and Hurs

C. Peter Wagner shares with us 
again today from his book, PRAYER 
SHIELD:

"More than ever before, Cathy needed her Aarons and Hurs. And God sent them.

The first one we knew about was Dave Rumph, and 1-2 intercessor who does not have the gift of intercession, but does have a recognized gift of encouragement.

God assigned Dave to pray for Cathy at that time, but especially to call her on the telephone several times the preceding week to encourage her.

After the fact, we learned about eight others who had prayer for Cathy. 

Christy Graham, whom I have previously mentioned as an example of a crisis intercessor, had been assigned by God to pray intensely for Cathy six weeks before the Faculty Senate meeting, and she had been praying faithfully every day.

(Peter then mentioned several others). 

Cathy was doing what Euodia and Syntyche #12  Paul's Prayer Partners: Enodia and Syntyche did for the apostle Paul: spiritual warfare on my behalf.  I did not have to go through the potentially explosive Faculty Senate debate I had anticipated. (In my post,  #67  Seven Years of Learning)

Cathy took the brunt of the spiritual attack for me. It never occurred to her to complain. She was using her spiritual gift and flowing with the Holy Spirit, and her prayers for me were being answered.

But she needed help. None of the nine people who helped her was praying for me at the time.

Satan was trying to get Cathy's arms down (to use the analogy of Moses praying for Joshua), but God provided her the nine Aarons and Hurs.

The results of their prayers? The lawsuit from the accident was dropped; the school board dismissed the charges totally; the fire insurance paid for rebuilding Cathy's kitchen floor much better than it had been before the fire.

She told us that the week after the Faculty Senate meeting was one of the most relaxed, pleasant and less stressful weeks she could remember both in her school and with her family.

The battle had been fought and won!

A helpful analysis of what happens spiritually in situations like this comes from Sylvia R. Evens of Elim Bible Fellowship in Lima, New York.

She says that one of God's most wonderful blessings is His faithfulness "to waken intercessors for the 'night watch' or an 'early morning watch' and to place them on duty to hold off the enemy.

She sees intercessors as watchmen constantly on the alert to be assigned their position in battle.

And we (Wagners) rejoice as we see God spreading this kind of spiritual power more and more widely throughout the Body of Christ these days."


#69 Arrons and Hurs, in the 
series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s 
book, PRAYER SHIELDHow to 
intercede for pastors, Christian leaders 
and others on the spiritual frontlines.
(pgs. 133, 134) by
 Regal Books


Let’s pray:


   Father, now that we understand that even those who support our leaders in times of intense prayer need our support, may You find us faithful to pray when You impress us to pray for them.

   When our 'night watches' happen, help us pray effectively and fervently.

   It is our privilege to be a part of the support system You've set in motion, to accomplish Your plan for our area's part in the Body of Christ.

   Our hope is that we'll listen to Your Spirit's urging us to pray. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Let’s pray for our pastors: “Pray that your pastor will be a man of prayer and worship, and that he will lead by exampleteaching the congregation how to walk in a close relationship with the Father.” 1 Thess. 5:17; Acts 1:14a; Matt. 4:10; Mark 1:35; Luke 22:46  www.lifeaction.org

Today’s Bible verse:  Ezra 9:8 "And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God,..that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage."

Today’s quote: Abu “I appeal to you, pastors, please teach the people how to pray. The people, who don’t pray, can be taken in anything – in anything – by the devil. And there are ways the enemy exploits their lives and their prayers – people who don’t know how to pray or pray only little, the enemy even knows how to exploit their prayers.” (A converted Spiritualist)

Some thoughts today: When we spend time with God, we learn His will. The process in your progress is for this moment. Our challenge comes when we step out in what the Lord tells us.

- Today is the time of advancement. You haven't experienced all the Lord has planned for you, my friend.

- Are you hungry for God? He will never fail to help you grow, but asks that you seek Bible Studies to enrich your faith.

27th- Thursday’s post:  #70  Recruiting Prayer Partners  C. Peter Wagner

29th- Saturday's post:  Releasing Secrets, Restoring Hope  Gwen Smith

30th- Sunday's post:  The Little Tent  Dave McCasland 

4/1 Tuesday's post:  #71  Results of a Poor Choice  C. Peter Wagner


A popular post:  God Speaks Barbara Duram tells us,"God spoke to my heart. 'Use the obvious.' And I did. I was asked to prepare a devotion for our choir and though I’d tried numerous times to find an appropriate piece centered around singing, nothing good came to mind. Until…God spoke to my heart. "



Some of the beauty of God's 
creations, with flowers and 
Fall leaves on bookmarks,that 
I've made over the years.

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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Things That Make Me Happy

Jean Oathout has some 
thoughts for us to consider:

It does seem, that when we obey the Lord's promptings, He brings other blessings we need, too.

The following are a few things I'm thankful for, that make me happy:

#1 Recently, a friend mentioned her new cleaning schedule, and as I was interested, I inquired what it was.

She had been advised to plan a certain chore for each day in the week, thus dividing it up into easier, more manageable ways to keep her house clean and neat.

My dad died when I was six, so my mother had to work five days a week. I learned from her to clean when company was expected. Otherwise, things just mounted until time was made to do something about it.

I find that that habit has been a burdensome way for me to follow.

I've begun delegating a main chore for most days, and what a difference it has made! I think the Lord has used it to free me up in other ways.

Now, for example, I look forward to different challenges in getting projects clean instead of dreading them. I'm sensing a joy, but can't explain it. I'm thankful to be able to enjoy my home more.

I'm also finding a willingness to pitch things I now find I'm tired of saving, and don't see a need of. When I look for something in particular, I take time to clean as I go, (I actually discovered some money in a drawer which I'd forgotten about. It will come in handy for a dentist bill coming up!)

I notice drawers that I haven't investigated for probably years, that I have no idea their contents...more projects that will be waiting

I'm finding that every week doesn't turn out the same, (as life changes), and I do what I can to adjust the cleaning schedule. A friend told me of a 15-minute idea for cleaning. Set the timer, and tackle a project for that amount of time!

#2 Another new habit I have is sitting quietly before the Lord early in the day. It causes me to become more sensitive to His presence, and more willing to wait on His leading in my prayer time.

(I found a station on Pandora which I listen to, "Hymns 4 
Worship Radio"that helps me concentrate on the Lord. I 
especially enjoy this music as it has music that I am familiar 
with.)

#3 I've begun to walk in the freedom from eating things that I know aren't good for my health. When I ask the Lord for help, I see it really does make a difference! When I'm tempted, I find that I can resist things, and simply walk away. 

The book I've been reading: Lysa Terkeurst, MADE TO CRAVESATISFYING YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE WITH GOD, NOT FOOD, is a great book. 

What I've read so far has helped me to recognize the thoughts that have tripped me up so many times, like "This a special time", and "Everyone else is doing it". I have to stop and remember why I'm not eating such things, and what my goals are.



I'm trying to choose foods 
that are better for my health.




#4 Other activities that tend to make me happy are; serving on our church's worship team and 
the First Impressions Team, attending a writers 
by-weekly group, and a weekly ladies home 
group, and receiving counsel on my finances.

#5 Recently, I helped welcome my new granddaughter, Savanah. She is in Catskill, NY with her mommy and daddy,(my youngest son, John). 

That  was a joy to me, and 
hopefully, help to them. 
John and I traded places each 
day, so he could go to the 
hospital after work, and be 
with Leah and Savanah. 

#6 The thing that makes me the most happy is 
my relationship to God, through Christ Jesus. Life 
is well worth living with His guidance, blessing, 
provision, protection, companionship, and presence.

#7 I'm thankful for this blog, Treasures in Christ, for in the challenges I receive through the various authors' messages I share, there will be more changes for me; and with changes, there will come new freedoms to walk in.


#8 The following is a very important admonition from a friend, and I highly recommend we follow it:


A Different Kind of Diet

by Frances Gregory Pasch

"I recently discovered
A different kind of diet.
I hope that when you read about it
You will want to try it.

It nourishes your spirit,
Gives your face a special glow;
It reaches deep into your soul
So peace and joy will grow.

Just set aside ten minutes
On your calendar each day,
 For time along with Jesus
To worship Him and pray.

Cast all your cares upon him;
He'll lighten up your load.
With Him in charge of all you do
 You'll walk a smoother road.

Soon you'll find you crave more time
 Instead of wanting less.
A daily diet of God's Word
Is guaranteed to bless."

Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life through 
Devotions and Poetry by Frances Gregory Pasch published 
by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
Used by permission

Let’s pray:

   Father, The information given today may be challenging to us, but as we're on the road to progressive improvements, may we be honest to admit our need for You to help us.

   Whether it is chores, eating habits, or making a regular diet of Your Word, help us respond in such a way that our lives are blessed.

   Help me crave more of You in every part of my life, so I can please You, and be more productive in my Christian walk.

   In Christ's Name I pray. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 1 Sam. 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you."

Today’s quote: Jennifer Benson Schuldt “Many of us suffer from the pain of abandonment, rejection, and betrayal. Despite all of this, through Christ we can understand the sacrificial, compassionate, and enduring nature of true love. Today, remember that you are loved by God. Jesus said so with His life.”

Some thoughts today: Allow God to control your desires. He is well able! Surrender them, and trust in His ability to help you.

- Christ makes us alive, and can deliver us from all hurts and sin. Ask Him to heal you! He is Faithful! 

- Repent, and make it right, my friend. Allow Him to cleanse you, and give you New Life and a hope for your future!

25th- Tuesday’s post:  #69  Aarons and Hurs  C. Peter Wagner

27th- Thursday's post:  #70  Recruiting Prayer Partners  C. Peter Wagner

29th- Saturday's post:  Releasing Secrets, Restoring Hope  Gwen Smith

30th- Sunday's post: The Little Tent  Dave McCasland


A popular post:  Sharpened Friends   Martin Wiles tells us, "True friends hold one another accountable."

Such beauty is on its way again! Have faith! 
Your Father loves you, my friend, 
for He created things like this to tell you so!
Can you imagine the smell already?


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Verse  Kindle $1.99 

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