Word for Today, Tue, 03 Feb 2004: Practical Expressions of Prayer

#1 · February 4, 2004, 8:47 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on February 4, 2004, 8:47 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Tue, 03 Feb 2004: Practical Expressions of Prayer
Dear friends,

Today's message comes from Larry Davies' Sowing Seeds of Faith.
It's about the aspect of prayer in our personal relationship to
Jesus Christ, and how prayer can be an active, practical part of
our every day lives. The message gives many examples of how
prayer is alive and at work in the lives of people.

Sowing Seeds of Faith happens to have a very active, vibrant
worldwide prayer ministry. Since last summer, I've been helping
out as the editor of the prayer mailing list that Sowing Seeds
sends out three times each week.

Will you make prayer a part of your every day life?

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Larry, thank you for allowing me to be a Prayer Warrior for
"Sowing Seeds of Faith". It is truly a blessing to pray for so
many, as well as to write to them. Also, the emails received
from my prayer requests posted have been incredible. The service
you offer to the world is outstanding and Our Lord shall not
forget what you are doing for Him. --Marie

To see last week's devotion on prayer click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/prayer.htm

Moving from Prayer to Prayer Ministry Larry Davies

* A friend of a two-year old girl struggling with cancer
requests prayer over the Internet.
* Thirty-eight men attend a ''Walk to Emmaus'' weekend while
hundreds more pray.
* At 6:00 every morning a bell rings calling members of one
family to devotions and prayer.

Last week, prayer was described as a unique opportunity to be in
relationship with God: One that can make an authentic difference
in your life and the life of anyone who comes in contact with
you. But this is only the first step towards an exhilarating
prayer ministry. Like a stone hitting still water, prayer
ministry begins with one ripple then spreads outward in
ever-wider circles.

"At 6:00 AM, Mom rings the bell to summon us to the prayer room.
At 6:15 we better be there," laughs one of the children. "We''ve
been gathering every morning for over ten years. I used to hate
it getting up so early but now morning prayer time is a regular
habit. Our family held together through good times and bad and
what I cherish the most is our morning prayers."

The first circle begins with family: Prayer can start with grace
at mealtime. We learn to pray with our spouse or a close friend.
Parents should pray regularly with their children. "Listen to
my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests
to you and wait expectantly." (Psalm 5:3) Prayer can be the
glue which holds a family together amongst a world falling
apart.

"Every Sunday morning at 7:30 our group meets at church to
offer encouragement and prayers. It's the only time all of us
can make it. We've helped each other through marriage problems,
deaths and serious illness. Each week, we challenge ourselves to
be a better Christian witness than the week before. It hasn't
always been easy but this group made me a better person."

The second circle involves a small group: Two key features of
this ministry are accountability and encouragement.
Accountability represents the desire to improve while warm,
loving encouragement keeps you going when accountability is
impossible. "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and
a thankful heart." (Col. 4:2) Prayer sustains and challenges
us.

"During worship I asked for prayer on behalf of a man in
another state facing surgery. A candle was lit reminding us to
pray and a card of encouragement was mailed the next day. He
called me later in tears. That prayer card was the first thing
he saw when he woke up in the recovery room."

The third prayer circle is your local church: Prayer should be
a regular part of worship, but there could also be regular
prayer gatherings and occasional healing services. Many churches
post lists where someone can pray at any hour of every day.
There are prayer chains so more urgent prayers are passed on
quickly. "They devoted themselves to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

Thirty-eight men recently attended a "Walk to Emmaus" weekend
while others worked behind the scenes and hundreds more prayed:
Some prayed at a certain hour for the success of the weekend,
while others prayed for an individual. When the "walk" was
over, thirty-eight men spoke of life-changing experiences. Why?
There were many reasons but underneath it all was prayer.

The fourth prayer circle is within a wider community: Following
the September 11 tragedy communities gathered to pray for the
victims and for solutions to society''s plaque of violence. "I
urge you first of all, to pray for all people." (1 Tim. 2:1) A
wider community of prayer can be expanded to include your
neighborhood and even the entire world. Here is a creative
example:

A two-year old girl named Becky is struggling with cancer and a
family friend goes home to her computer and begins searching the
Internet for prayer groups. To each group, she sends an urgent
email message asking them to pray for Becky. Within hours,
thousands of people around the world are praying and sending
emails offering love and encouragement.

Prayer Ministry begins with you and spreads outward in
ever-wider circles. The possibilities are endless and the
potential is awe-inspiring. Question: How is your prayer
ministry doing?

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing
Seeds Ministry partner. Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
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Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Tue, 03 Feb 2004: Practical Expressions of Prayer
Dear friends,

Today's message comes from Larry Davies' Sowing Seeds of Faith.
It's about the aspect of prayer in our personal relationship to
Jesus Christ, and how prayer can be an active, practical part of
our every day lives. The message gives many examples of how
prayer is alive and at work in the lives of people.

Sowing Seeds of Faith happens to have a very active, vibrant
worldwide prayer ministry. Since last summer, I've been helping
out as the editor of the prayer mailing list that Sowing Seeds
sends out three times each week.

Will you make prayer a part of your every day life?

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Larry, thank you for allowing me to be a Prayer Warrior for
"Sowing Seeds of Faith". It is truly a blessing to pray for so
many, as well as to write to them. Also, the emails received
from my prayer requests posted have been incredible. The service
you offer to the world is outstanding and Our Lord shall not
forget what you are doing for Him. --Marie

To see last week's devotion on prayer click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/prayer.htm

Moving from Prayer to Prayer Ministry Larry Davies

* A friend of a two-year old girl struggling with cancer
requests prayer over the Internet.
* Thirty-eight men attend a ''Walk to Emmaus'' weekend while
hundreds more pray.
* At 6:00 every morning a bell rings calling members of one
family to devotions and prayer.

Last week, prayer was described as a unique opportunity to be in
relationship with God: One that can make an authentic difference
in your life and the life of anyone who comes in contact with
you. But this is only the first step towards an exhilarating
prayer ministry. Like a stone hitting still water, prayer
ministry begins with one ripple then spreads outward in
ever-wider circles.

"At 6:00 AM, Mom rings the bell to summon us to the prayer room.
At 6:15 we better be there," laughs one of the children. "We''ve
been gathering every morning for over ten years. I used to hate
it getting up so early but now morning prayer time is a regular
habit. Our family held together through good times and bad and
what I cherish the most is our morning prayers."

The first circle begins with family: Prayer can start with grace
at mealtime. We learn to pray with our spouse or a close friend.
Parents should pray regularly with their children. "Listen to
my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests
to you and wait expectantly." (Psalm 5:3) Prayer can be the
glue which holds a family together amongst a world falling
apart.

"Every Sunday morning at 7:30 our group meets at church to
offer encouragement and prayers. It's the only time all of us
can make it. We've helped each other through marriage problems,
deaths and serious illness. Each week, we challenge ourselves to
be a better Christian witness than the week before. It hasn't
always been easy but this group made me a better person."

The second circle involves a small group: Two key features of
this ministry are accountability and encouragement.
Accountability represents the desire to improve while warm,
loving encouragement keeps you going when accountability is
impossible. "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and
a thankful heart." (Col. 4:2) Prayer sustains and challenges
us.

"During worship I asked for prayer on behalf of a man in
another state facing surgery. A candle was lit reminding us to
pray and a card of encouragement was mailed the next day. He
called me later in tears. That prayer card was the first thing
he saw when he woke up in the recovery room."

The third prayer circle is your local church: Prayer should be
a regular part of worship, but there could also be regular
prayer gatherings and occasional healing services. Many churches
post lists where someone can pray at any hour of every day.
There are prayer chains so more urgent prayers are passed on
quickly. "They devoted themselves to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

Thirty-eight men recently attended a "Walk to Emmaus" weekend
while others worked behind the scenes and hundreds more prayed:
Some prayed at a certain hour for the success of the weekend,
while others prayed for an individual. When the "walk" was
over, thirty-eight men spoke of life-changing experiences. Why?
There were many reasons but underneath it all was prayer.

The fourth prayer circle is within a wider community: Following
the September 11 tragedy communities gathered to pray for the
victims and for solutions to society''s plaque of violence. "I
urge you first of all, to pray for all people." (1 Tim. 2:1) A
wider community of prayer can be expanded to include your
neighborhood and even the entire world. Here is a creative
example:

A two-year old girl named Becky is struggling with cancer and a
family friend goes home to her computer and begins searching the
Internet for prayer groups. To each group, she sends an urgent
email message asking them to pray for Becky. Within hours,
thousands of people around the world are praying and sending
emails offering love and encouragement.

Prayer Ministry begins with you and spreads outward in
ever-wider circles. The possibilities are endless and the
potential is awe-inspiring. Question: How is your prayer
ministry doing?

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing
Seeds Ministry partner. Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This mailing proudly powered by Subscribe Me(TM) Professional -
Enterprise Edition http://www.subscribemepro.com

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online.
taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html