Prayer and Fasting pt 3

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psa 141:2 (NIV)

As we continue moving toward the weekend I want to offer some more suggestions for our fasting. These are not original they are from Perry Nobel's blog. But they are great.

• You can fast for a day or two…or all week, whatever the Lord puts on your heart.
• You can fast for a specific time period (like from 5:00 pm one day until 5:00 pm the next day.)
• You can fast from a particular meal.
• You can fast from a particular type of food.
• You can fast from something other than food (like maybe facebook or twitter!)

I believe God wants to rock some people's worlds and I for one want to join Him in that - will you join with me?

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Mat 21:22 (NIV)

Prayer and Fasting pt 2.

Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 2 Chr 20:2-21 (NIV)

Jehoshaphat was a righteous king but he saw that his people were facing a real danger (a vast army) - and while he was seeking the Lord he called the people of Israel to fast.

As people of faith we see an even greater danger before us. Those we know and love are also under attack - many have not committed their lives to Christ. So this week I'm asking that we follow the example of many before us. Pick a day (or more if you choose) this week to fast and spend time in prayer for those who will be joining us this weekend at HCC.

Pray that God's Spirit moves them to come and hear.
Pray that God's Spirit makes them receptive to His word.
Pray that Jesus is lifted up in a glorious way before them.
Pray that God is glorified in all that we do.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b (NIV)

Prayer and Fasting

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23 (NIV)

In the early church they practiced and taught about prayer and fasting. So important was this practice that they did this prior to appointing Elders in the churches.

I want to ask all of you to join me this week in another important decision. I'm talking about the decision that many people need to make about who Jesus Christ is going to be in their lives.

This coming weekend is Easter and we will have a monster crowd. And among that crowd will be many that are not Christ Followers and many others that at best are "marginal".

I'm asking that you join me for at least one day of your choice of fasting. I'm not being legalistic about this... it is a fast of your choice. It could be a simple juice fast, or a total food fast with liquid only. Let the Lord lead you on this.

And while you do this take some specific time to pray for this weekend's services. Here are a few suggestions for prayer.

Pray for me that I will hear God clearly in preparing the message this week. Pray that God prepares the hearts of those who will be hearing it this weekend. Pray for the volunteers that will make this a great experience for those coming. Pray for the Praise Team that they will worship in such a way that we naturally join them in praise of God. Add to this list as God leads you.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b (NIV)

I'm now on "Twitter"

You can now follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/Dino2525

Is your bracket blown?

I'm sure that you, like me have said, "my bracket is blown" - at least if you have filled out an NCAA bracket this year.

This has been an exciting time of "March Madness". With some top ranked teams exiting early and some "Cinderella Teams" decimating brackets everywhere.

And while this is a fun time of the year for basketball fans it is really not earth shattering - but what about when the "blown brackets" are not on a sheet of paper? What do we do when the "brackets" represent the plans we have in life?

The hopes and dreams we have are shattered by a sickness, infidelity, or rebellion? NCAA fans can go home and hope for next year. But what can we do?

The good news is that God offers grace and restoration. As a matter of fact the Scripture is filled with examples of blown dreams turned into ministry. I think of Joseph, the spoiled favorite son sold into slavery. God used him mightily. I think of Paul, who started out trying to eradicate the Church and yet became it's greatest advocate. In a couple of weeks I will be preaching about the incredible denial of Peter and the monument of grace he became.

So maybe now your "busted bracket" looms large in your life. Take heart we have a God who is so much larger than our situations. I am reminded of one of my favorite verses in Scripture. Ephesians 3:20 says this, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"

Maybe it's time to just shred that old bracket - and let God do what only God can do.

Oh, and GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

He's not choking on this one!

242 / +2.6 / 23 - "I've been a bad boy".....

Phil Michelson is the #2 player in the world in golf. And I have to say - I love/hate to watch him. He really seems like a class act, but his game is frustrating. He can be awesome or awful. On the other hand I am bad or awful. He has a reputation as a "choker". He can be heading into the final round with a 5 shot lead and then blow it. He is addicted to his driver when a 3 wood would serve him better. But at the end of the day he is still ranked #2 in the world behind Tiger Woods.

And while he may choke at times on the golf course - he's not choking where it counts the most. He is a strong family man with a beautiful wife and three children. And from the outside looking in it appears he has his priorities right. That is why today he suspended his play in the PGA indefinitely. His wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. You can read the story here if you would like.

So many times celebrities are paraded before us and while they have tremendous successes in their field they are often incredible losers in life. It's nice to see that in the things that matter most Phil Michelson gets it. I pray that all goes well with his wife's treatments. That is much more important than golf!

I miss you mom.

239.4 / -2.6 / 25.6

I don't often talk about my mom. There are a number of reasons - the main one being it is painful. My mom had an incredible battle with mental illness. I still struggle with my brother's mental problems and I have to fight not to blame that on my mom too. Through no fault of her own she was simply not a nurturing person. I think that the survival skills she had to develop in her own childhood made her hard and defensive.

My mom did have some incredible attributes however. She was a voracious reader. She loved God. She worshiped the ground my dad walked on. She would literally fight hell for her three boys. While she had few close friends, she was loyal to them with a vengeance.

But with tomorrow being mothers day I wish I could see here again. She has been gone for nearly 10 years now. And to be honest - I'm not sure I would like to see her as she was. But I'd really like to see her as she is now. She is no longer in the pain of loneliness and mental anguish that she carried most of her life. She would no longer be worried about Mark. She would have cast aside the "stuff of life" that made her sometimes difficult. The corruptible has been replaced with incorruptible. She is now the full blown version of what her savior intended for her to be.

I have not said it in a very long time - so I want to say it here. I love you mom. You gave me life. You really had no greater joy than to see you kids following Jesus. You gave me the best you had. While I have felt many times that it was not enough. I have found that in God's economy it was.

I guess the truth is if I could see you again just the way you were, I really would probably jump at the chance. Even if it meant we would would disagree about something. I do love you. And I know you WILL have a great Mother's Day - because you are having yet another Mother's Day in heaven. One day we will celebrate it together before the throne.

OK - who hid the tissues?