Prayer requests: see         http://sweethourofprayer.blogstream.com

(the following is taken from a Joyce Meyer book)

I pray that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development...so that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value.  ~ Phillipians 1:9-10

 

Paul prayed this prayer for the believers at the church in Phillippi, knowing they could not have powerful, victorious lives unless they learned the real value of loving others.

You too must make a true commitment to walk in love, which may require you to readjust your priorities and change your focus.

You should have your mind renewed to what love really is.  It is not a  feeling you have; it is a decision you make--a decision to treat people the way Jesus would treat them.

A true love walk does not come easily or without personal sacrifice, but the benefits are great.  God will enrich your life like never before.  Loving others is the pathway to true joy.

 

(taken from the 'Weekly Devotionals' section of the John Hagee Ministries web site)

Some people blame God when a crisis strikes them- even when, in fact, the problem is frequently the consequences of their poor choices. A big, burly man once sat in my office with his left arm cut off at his elbow. He blamed God for this career-ending injury that happened in a one-man car crash. He had been the driver of the car, and he was drunk at the time of accident. He screamed at me as he pointed to his stub, "Look what God did to me!"

I must confess that I was not in the mood to give him the "Harvard Temperament Test." Nor was I willing to listen to him insult our God. Instead, I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Your stupid choices caused your injury. You chose to get drunk. You chose to drive after you got drunk. You drove the car into a tree, and as a result your arm was cut off. Quit blaming God. You are living with the consequences of the choices you made."

The man didn't like what I told him, but for the first time, he was forced to face the truth: His tragedy was his own fault.

Tragedy is often caused by our lack of knowledge. When President McKinley was shot, he was attended by two physicians, Drs. Weiss and Bliss. Since x-rays had not yet been invited, the doctors could only make an educated guess concerning the exact location of the bullet in the president's body. They followed Dr. Bliss's diagnosis in treating the president, but Bliss was wrong. The president of the United States died as a result. The newspaper headlines screamed the next day: "Ignorance Is Bliss!"

Remember that: ? Ignorance can kill you-or someone you love! ? Ignorance can prevent a cure for cancer or heart disease. ? Ignorance of God's existence and His power prevents millions from knowing Him.

Solomon wrote,"You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth" (Prov.6:2). Words have life! Words have power! When tragedy strikes, you can get bitter or you can get better. It's up to you. If you allow your thoughts and your speech to be saturated with resentment, then you will self-destruct. Keep trusting, keep praying, and keep believing, even when you don't understand why you must endure such hardships. The day will soon be here when we will see Jesus face-to-face. -Pastor John Hagee

(from 'Streams in the Desert, Vol. 1)

God that cannot lie promised. (Titus 1:2)

Faith is not working up by will power a sort of certainty that something is coming to pass, but it is seeing as an actual fact that God has said that this thing shall come to pass, and that it is true, and then rejoicing to know that it is true, and just resting because God has said it.

Faith turns the promise into a prophecy.  While it is merely a promise it is contingent upon our co-operation.  But when faith claims it, it becomes a prophecy, and we go forth feeling that it is something that must be done because God cannot lie.

God waits for us.  He can do all things.  He could 'fix' our world.  But what good would that do?  We humans have taken His love and His power for granted so many times.  And then what does He get in return?  We end up putting our faith into and worshipping other 'gods'.

God waits for us to ask.  He waits for us to put our trust and faith in Him...not ourselves or other humans or idols.  And once we ask, we must show our faith by 'resting'...wait for Him to make things happen.  Wait for Him to give us instruction.  Wait...with faith.

I am getting this up kind of late. But here is the beginning of the prayer list:

I know there is an open ended prayer request circulating having to do with another blogger on the Blogstream. It is almost at critical mass. So, if you have a church prayer group, try to get as many of them involved as possible. It is going to take a lot of strength for intervention on this one. It is like trying to turn the Titanic around. But God can do all things!

2) this is a personal one for me. One of my sisters is getting hit from all sides. Expensive van repairs, sick children, expensive medicine, she is pregnant with their third child and just feeling overwhelmed right now. She needs some help.

3) A prayer request for a teenage girl that is being bullied at school. The girl is an African refugee from another country. Pray for her safety and that this situation can be resolved.

Please feel free to add prayer requests to the comment section and I will add them to this post. Or send them by PM and I will add them.

Wednesday night prayer meeting. Let's all take part and move mountains with the strength of God.

(this is an excerpt from a devotional written by Joyce Meyer)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.  ~Jeremiah 29:11

God has a perfect plan for all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives.  His plan is complete in great detail, and it will lead all who follow Him to an abundant life.  But only a few ever enjoy the fulfillment of God's plan because most don't know how to LISTEN to God's leading and follow Him.  INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE (either willfully or ignorantly) TO GO THEIR OWN WAY.

 You can walk in the perfect will of God if you will learn how to HEAR from Him and FOLLOW His instructions.  But listening to Him is your decision.  God won't force you to choose His will.  However, He will do everything He can to encourage you to say yes to His direction.

And I hope that PrayerwithHope doesn't mind...but I borrowed this from one of her blogs.  I think it is just wonderful!

Lord, I Pray....

Lord, I pray for a touch of your presence in my life today. May I carry You within my spirit so that every person who passes by me or stops to chat will receive a special blessing. May my eyes share your light; may my voice ring with love and acceptance, may my ears listen with understanding and may my heart feel with great sensitivity. In Jesus' name, amen. Caution - if you pray this prayer be ready for God to use you to touch the lives of others! June