This morning I woke up with a thought rolling over in my mind.  It was probably a carry over of studying yesterday for Sunday’s message.  Our topic for Sunday deals with every believer maturing and becoming servants of Christ and others.

I woke up this morning thinking about the American church including ours. Over the last 15 years we have used different tests to help people discover what they are supposed to do for Christ.

We have the PLACE test to help people find their place in ministry.  We have spiritual gift tests to help people discover their gifts for ministry.  Which one of those did the early church use? Did the Apostle Paul take one to help him discover he was called to be an apostle and called to martyrdom.

The tragedy of the modern church is that it is easier to get people to take a test than it is to get them to pray for direction.   We are so far removed from following the Spirit that we have relied on tests to show us.

I have used these for years but have seen little lasting fruit. The reason? When people are placed by a test that sense of calling is absent.  When they have been shown by a test they don’t always have the passion to go along with it.  I firmly believe in the future at RFA we must rely on God to show us through prayer, through His word and through the burning passion of God in our hearts. 

If you are looking for your place in God’s kingdom, seek Him.  Call upon Him and He will show great and mighty things that you did not know.

As we have concluded our fast, I believe it is important that we continue in prayer.  To make a habit of praying and seeking the Lord.  As we endeavor to be disciplined in our prayer lives we must remember that it doesn’t become just a ritual or a task that we do grudgingly.  We must make sure that we do it from the want to instead of the have to.

As I was contemplating this thought, I came across an article I wrote 4 years ago that I think will help those who have struggled with the mindset of “having” to pray.  Keep your heart for God and prayer and do it out of your love for God.

Devotional Bondage

As I was coming up in ministry, I was taught rather legalistically, that you had to spend at least an hour a day in prayer.  Not 59 minutes, but at least an hour.  To fall short by one minute would mean that you were ineffective and risked the possibility of hell.  I am not making this stuff up, but I was taught that Jesus asked His disciples, “Could you not tarry with me for one hour?”  If Jesus asked that question, then we must tarry at least one hour.

For years I watched the clock to make sure I made it.  When I pastored my first church, I worked a full-time job with alot of overtime, prepared three sermons a week, visited the sick, cleaned the church, mowed the church yard, did the bulletins and anything else that needed to be done.  I often did not meet my target goal of one hour.  I would arise at 5:00 some mornings to “get my hour in” before I went to work.  Because I would stay up to midnight preparing sermons, I would fall asleep in prayer at the altar and then hang my head in shame at how my flesh got the best of me.  This went on for years.

After I went full-time in ministry, I still had the bondage of this one hour a day rule.  I felt like a failure, ashamed that I could not pray long enough.  It didn’t matter if you prayed throughout the day.  You at least had to pray for one hour at one time.  I lived with guilt and shame, as most do, when they are bound by legalism.  It wasn’t until several years ago that I finally got set free of this addictive garbage.  I realized that God enjoys time with us, whether it be 5 minutes or 5 hours.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the more prayer the better, but if we are praying out of legalism, there is a skewed relationship with God.  We treat God as an abusive Father who demands perfection in our prayer life.  We then pray out of fear of failure, rather than praying out of our desire for Him.  We fall into the trapping of trying to please God rather than communing with God.  God is a loving Father who desires to know us and lavish us with His love and we must seek Him out of a desire to know Him more.  God is a God who is a gracious Father not a God who cannot be pleased.

Our prayer lives should be growing and ongoing, but not bound to a time or ritual.  I no longer watch the clock.  I no longer fear falling short.  I pray in the mornings as long as I can or feel led.  I pray during the day, when I am in my car, or while I’m working.  I now have more freedom in prayer and my relationship with God is relishing His love and grace.

The tooth fairy will be busy tonight. I did tell Hannah that the tooth fairy had no more money for kids because Mr. Obama took it all in taxes. But Hannah assured me that he left her a little bit. Sorry if that was a political statement. I didn’t mean to let it slip. We do pray for our President and country’s leaders frequently.

The only way 2 attain anything is 2 pursue it. Goals r only reached when pursued. Change only takes place when we pursue change #pursue2013

I received this today from our General Superintendent.  Let’s pray for those in Connecticut and America. We need God.

Dear Fellow Minister:

Our hearts are heavy today as the details are still unfolding regarding the tragic shooting this morning at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, where  some 600+ children in kindergarten through grade 4 attend. A recent report has indicated 26 fatalities, many of them children.

I attended a Christmas pageant today, in which my four-year old grandson participated as a shepherd.  I thought to myself how broken I would be if a gunman had come into that room and begun shooting those little children. 

We ask that you pray for those families who lost children and loved ones, as well as those injured—many in critical care—at this time. Please pray for the five Assemblies of God churches within a 10-mile radius of the school as they begin to minister to the hurting in their communities.

Here are some additional prayer points:

Pray for God’s sustaining grace and comfort upon families who have lost children and adults in this shooting.

Pray for the injured that they will recover.

Pray for the community of Newtown that has been traumatized by this occurrence.

Pray that the church will be able to respond with help and comfort in the hours and days ahead.

Pray for the emotional and mental well-being of children who attend Sandy Hook Elementary as they deal with this tragedy.

Pray that wise and sensitive counsel will quickly be available.

Pray for the well-being also of teachers, administrators, and staff.

Pray that families, friends, and the entire community will look to God for His strength, peace, and comfort.

Is your life like a whirlwind of time? Does your to do list never end?

Life is a precious commodity, a jewel to be guarded.

Psalm 89:47 says, “Remember how short my time is; for what futility have you created all the children of men?

While as Christians, we are not to be so wrapped up in this life that we do not care about eternal life; we should value our lives. Many people pass through life without savoring the beauty of what God has created around us. Some pass life through living in misery. I believe that our level of misery is determined by our attitude. Some choose to remain unhappy. If we value life, we will stop and find out how to enjoy it. Trials will still be there. You will still get sick at times, and someone might even hurt your feelings, but why let these ruin your life? Handle what life dishes out with joy and longsuffering.

Since we must value our life, there are three things that are highly important:

1. Our relationship with God. This is the most important. Life on its own is nothing without the Master. Seek to make the most of your time with Him. Be a student of His Word and take the time to spend at His feet. Those who value life will value the eternal.

2. Your Family. This is second in importance. God has entrusted you with your family. They have been loaned to you until Christ comes. Take the time to be with them. Someone once said, “A man on his deathbed will not look back at his life and say ‘I wish I would have spent more time at the office.'” Find out what is necessary to maintain your employment, but don’t sacrifice your family to make money. The legacy you leave to your children will live on when they raise kids. Let it be a good legacy.

3. Your ministry. Third, our life should be spent serving God and finding our place in Him. When rewards are passed out in Heaven, I look for Him to say, “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant”. In valuing life, you should seek to make a difference in somebody else’s life. Do the most you can, the best you can for God!

Life is full of surprises and excitement. It is also full of trials and disappointments. Choose to love life, choose to cherish life, and choose to enjoy life! Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

God’s plan for America is not hindered or decided by an election. The heart of the leader is in the Lord’s hands. God’s in control. Let’s pray for our nation that God would send revival.

Its hard to express in words what my father in law meant to me.  He went home to be with the Lord Saturday night, November 3rd.  Sonya and I were fortunate to be able to get here to say goodbye before he passed.  Though his life was a short 61 years, 1 week shy of his 62nd birthday, Larry impacted me greatly.

You see, it was Larry who was instrumental in bringing me to Christ.  I was a punk kid wanting to date his daughter.  On the way to Sonya’s parents house, right before he passed, I told her how fortunate it was that he let her date me.  If Hannah brought a guy home like I “was”, I wouldn’t let her date him.  I had gotten my ear pierced a second time just for the occasion.  Long hair, baggy clothes, earrings (this was before even old men wore earrings) I looked like someone that wouldn’t be good for your daughter.

When I walked in he instantly accepted me.  Talked to me like he’d known me forever.  By virtue of his size, 6 foot 3, 300 plus pounds, I was intimidated but he was a gentle soul.  After I left, Sonya’s mom cried.  I don’t blame her (she loves me now).  In her fear of the worst, she cried and told Larry that she wanted Sonya to marry a preacher.  (SIDENOTE: Sonya didn’t want to marry a preacher. She was looking for the furthest thing from God.)  When my mother in law said that to Larry, he replied, “Leave the boy alone Sandy, who knows what God can do in his life.”

It was that compassion for me, every time I came over, that led me to Christ.  One day after Sonya and I had been dating for a year, Larry invited me to church.  He had always talked to me about the things of God, but never forced anything on me.  He would tell me about Christ’s return and about the need to be ready, but he was never over-bearing.  That Saturday when he invited me to church and offered to buy me Panchos buffet after service, I decided to give it a try.

I had never been to a church quite like this one.  This one was different.  Full of the Spirit.  I was raised in a denomination that didn’t believe in the moving of the Spirit.  I felt something I had never felt before.  God touched me that morning in such a way that I realized my sinfulness.  I walked the aisle in the middle of the service and surrendered to Jesus.  As I walked that aisle, I remember the hand of a large man on my back.  It was Larry praying for me. 

The past 8 years, he has suffered much.  His body ravaged by disease, strokes and pain.  Yet in the midst of all of that, he prayed for everyone.  He was an intercessor. When he couldn’t see, walk or even get up anymore, he still prayed…he still would call out to God.  Even through all of that, he never lost his sense of humor…his agitating provoking ways.  His attitude was great through it all.

Now that he has gone, we know that he is experiencing the glories of a kingdom that knows no pain, no sickness or sorrow.  He is walking on his 2 brand new legs, dancing in the presence of Jesus. 

I love you Larry “Dad”!  Thank you for giving a punk kid a chance!