#54 You will be Accountable for Your Prayer Life

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: The foundation on which all ministry and leadership is built is your prayer life. Your leadership is never greater than your prayers.

   Successful leadership requires much more than prayer, but no leadership can ever be ultimately successful apart from much prayer. (Google image, Man at altar)

#54 You Will Be Accountable for Your Prayer Life

 

   Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: The foundation on which all ministry and leadership is built is your prayer life. Your leadership is never greater than your prayers.

   Successful leadership requires much more than prayer, but no leadership can ever be ultimately successful apart from much prayer. (Google image, Man at altar) 

Your Prayer Controls Your Work

 Dr. Wesley L. Duewel:  Regardless of your leadership role—pastor, teacher, Sunday School leader, lay leader, youth leader, missionary,[or work place]—adapt this to your situation.

1. Plan your intercession for your people. You will be sure to fail God and your people unless you have a regular prayer plan for your intercession times. If anything in life is worth planning, surely this is. (Google image, Lessons on Prayer)

Suggestions For Your Prayer Role

   

   Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Regardless of your leadership role—pastor, teacher, Sunday School leader, lay leader, youth leader, missionary—adapt this to your situation.

    Plan your intercession for your people. 

   You will be sure to fail God and your people unless you have a regular prayer plan for your intercession times. If anything in life is worth planning, surely this is. (Google image, Man with uplifted hand).  

#76 Suggestions for Your Prayer Role

   Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Regardless of your leadership role—pastor, teacher, Sunday School leader, lay leader, youth leader, missionary—adapt this to your situation.

   1. Plan your intercession for your people. You will be sure to fail God and your people unless you have a regular prayer plan for your intercession times. If anything in life is worth planning, surely this is. (Google image, Man with uplifted hand). 

#49 You will be Accountable for Your Sleeplessness as a Watchman

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- A sleepy watchman is a danger. The last thing he dare do is to sleep. A soldier on guard who goes to sleep can be sentenced to death. Why? He is a danger to everyone in the army.

   You as a leader are a spiritual guard for your people. It is spiritually dangerous for your people for you to become spiritually drowsy. Guard duty is no laughing matter. It is a solemn responsibility to a leader. (Google image, Sleeping soldier) 

#51 Your Accountability as a Leader, Part 2

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: We continue our discussion of leaders' responsibility to God and their people.

       You will be accountable to practice what you say.

   Jesus commanded us not to be like the Pharisees. "They do not practice what they preach" (Matt. 23:3-4). Bishop Ryle comments, 
"So long as the world stands, this chapter ought to be a warning and a beacon to all ministers of religion. No sins are so sinful as theirs in the sight of Christ." (Google image, Pastors keep going through hard times)

#52 You Will be more Accountable than Your People

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: James warns us, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" (James 3:1).

In the very next verse he adds that we all stumble in many ways. Are you stumbling "in many ways"? (Google image, Teacher clipart)

#53 You will be Accountable for Your Example

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Jesus lived His life as an example to us. He deliberately acted in a certain way to set an example. (Google image, Jesus with children)

Pray "With All Kinds of Prayer"

 

Alvin Vandergriend- 

PRAISE—"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchabel his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33).

I praise you, God, for the richness of Your wisdom and knowledge, and I rejoice in Your unsearchable ways I exalt Your name and . . .  (Google image, Open Bible with pen and cup of coffee))

Does God Know You?

Jean Oathout: It's often said that a person is saved when they believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that they are sure of their salvation because of it.

   But, is that sufficient? Let's check out what God's Word has to say about it, okay? Remember, the demons believe this and tremble, but it doesn't begin to save them.  (Google image, Man-friendly church)

#58 The Day of Accountability is Coming

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: The most important day in the future of every believer is the judgment day. Paul makes Jesus' teaching clear—that we must each be ready for that day.

   "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,' every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:10-12).(Google image, Court)

#36 Intercession Improves Ministry

 

 C. Peter Wagner, from his book, PRAYER SHIELD, tells us "It is not a simple matter to conduct the type of research that proves or disproves the power of prayer.

However, Nancy Pfaff, an intercessor, church growth consultant and founder of Nevada Church growth has attempted it. (Google image, Pastors pray)

#48 Your Accountability as a Leader, Part 1

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Acts 20 contains Paul's final exhortations to the leaders at Ephesus. First Paul testified. He called them to witness how he had lived and served among them as their founding pastor.

   He challenged them to remember his service from the first day on (vv. 18-27). (Google image, The Apostle Paul) 

How to Stay Young

 Mary Southerland shares these suggestions with us today:

"1. Throw out non-essential numbers such as your age, weight and height.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably family members to fill that need.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain idle.

4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young - that is all you can afford. When they are in college that is all you can afford. When they are grown, and you are on retirement, that is all you can afford.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person that is with us our entire life is ourselves.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies or whatever. Your home is your refuge.



8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country - but not guilt.

10. Tell the people you love how much you love them every chance you get. Never assume they know.

11. Don't worry about things you cannot change or do anything about. Accept them and move on.

12. Read more and dust less.

13. Spend more time with your family and friends and less time working.

14. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. Recognize these moments now and cherish them.

15. Do not 'save' anything. Use your good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the next blossom of flowers you see.

16. Wear your best outfit to the market.

17. Don't save your good perfume for only special occasions. Use it even if you are going shopping or just to the bank.

18. 'Someday' and "one of these days" should vanish from your vocabulary. If something is worth seeing, hearing or doing, go and see, hear or do it now.

What about you? Are you living each day to the fullest? 

Jesus is all about living an abundant life in the here and now … whatever stage of life that might be for you. Jesus came so that we can live abundantly and eternally. 

Eternity began the moment you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

Let’s Pray:  Father, I want to live life to the fullest. I want everything you have for me and don’t want to miss a single blessing or trial that is for my good. Please help me keep my eyes on You and celebrate every day and all that it holds. I trust You, Lord, to work all things together for my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Who or what is stealing the joy from your life?

What circumstance are you facing that you need to see through God’s eyes and boldly trust Him for?

Look around. What can you find in your life to celebrate?

Are you living out God’s purpose for your life or are you bowing to the wrong audience and listening to the wrong voices?

Today, make the decision to celebrate life and all God has for you.

Read Romans 8:28 and know God is at work to make your life exactly what He wants it to be

How to Stay Young     Mary Southerland 7/23/13 info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website.

Need help getting the Word of God into your life? Check out Mary’s Weekly Online Bible Study, Power Up With Proverbs, to learn how to seek and find the wisdom of God for daily life.

Are you ready to begin a new faith adventure? Get a copy of our new book, Trusting God. Connect with me by email or on Facebook.

Let’s pray:  Father, when we think of the above thoughts of Mary's, may we begin to understand Your way for us, that there is to be a good life for each of us. Help us to maintain good attitudes, so we can learn to be satisfied in what our life is now, and how to walk out Your plan for us. We pray in Jesus' 
Name, amen.
                                   
                                     STAYING YOUNG

                                       "The spirit never ages.

                                       The essence of the soul

Is sure and strong forever

And keeps us young and whole!

The body shows that time has passed

When lines enrich the face,

When sight and hearing weaken,

When movement lacks in grace;

And yet we know that deep within

We're winsome, bright and fair,

Just as we were when we were young

And life was ours to dare!"

by Charlotte Pease

Today’s Bible verse: Job 42:12a "So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."

Today’s quote:  Brenda K. Hendricks – “Like our physical bodies, our souls crave spiritual food. We can choose healthy nourishment through devoting time to Bible study and prayer. Or we can choose to feast on junk. But be sure one way or the other our souls will be fed today.”

Some thoughts today: It is to be understood that God has a plan to use us in the Kingdom. You'll find great fulfillment and true fulfillment.

- Apprehend God’s involvement through prayer. We miss out when we fail to pray.

- God moves in answer to prayer. Imagine what God would do if you pray! 

A popular post:  Sharpened Friends   True friends hold one another accountable.   

[Google images added]

jowildflowers@gmail.com

Samples of Jean's crafts 

http://twitter.com/jeanoathout

http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/  Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse  my book with new title and cover for women contemplating marriage.

  {From My Personal Testimony}

#9  I Often Wanted My Own Way

"I often wanted my own way.

Rebellion was still there.

I felt I had something to say

And longed to voice my share."

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP77URG/  Kindle addition

#75 Your Responsibility to Intercede for Your People

   
   Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: God has given you no greater responsibility than that of interceding for your people. It is as urgent to bring your people before God in prayer as it is to bring God before your people in your messages.

   You must intercede for your ministry, the services, and the outreach. But you must also intercede for your people family by family and person by person. (Calling men to pray).

#57 The Two-fold Role of Every Christian Leader

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: You as a Christian leader or pastor have a twofold responsibility for every believer under your supervision.

You have other responsibilities—the evangelism of the unsaved, representing your group before the community and government, intercession for God's plan for your denomination or organization, for your nation and for the world. But you have two special responsibilities for your own members. (Google image, Preacher)

#11 Intercession Is a Spiritual Warfare

C. Peter Wagner shares with us, Jane Anne Pratt is one of Doris's and my personal prayer partners.

She is a member of the Dallas, Texas staff of the Eastern European Seminary mission organization.

Even before she was a staff member she had been called as a personal intercessor for John Maisel, the mission's president.  (Google image, Prayer Partners)

#12 Obtaining the Power

   Andrew Murray- The Holy Spirit shows us the work and nature of the mighty power dwelling within us. It is the power of God,

"according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand" 
(Ephesians 1. 19-20). (Google image)

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 CRAVE. SATISFYING 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, a 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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