Note the Prayer Page at top right….

There is little more important in life than prayer.  Prayer is Holy communication between you and the creator of the universe.  Think about it.  You have the opportunity to chat, plead and worship through your prayers with the heavenly Father.  

Oddly, it is also possibly one of the most neglected areas of life.  That seems odd doesn’t it?  YET, there are those that thrive on prayer. It is what makes them tick.  It is the very essence of life for them.  To them, this prayer page is significant!

So if you have a prayer need, post it here in the comments.  

If you are a prayer warrior, please click on the link and go to battle for those who need God’s intervention.  Be encouraged to post comments of encouragement for those requesting prayer.

Thank you in advance.  
archie

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

THE CANCER CONNECTION

Update on my friend with cancer follows. Please pray…

On October 27th, I was diagnosed with mouth cancer; a stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma inside my right cheek. Surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 30 at which time the surgical team will remove the tumor, 5 teeth and a portion of my upper and lower jaw. I am advised to allow at least two weeks before even thinking about resuming any normal ministry activity. So, I will be out of commission for a couple of weeks. For those of you who sent your support check after the 15th, you will be receiving a receipt letter as you normally would but it will not have any personal comments on it. Please know that whether there is a note or not, I am very grateful for your ongoing support of our ministry. It is a blessing beyond belief.

But God, who is rich in mercy has opened some doors of ministry for me since the diagnosis. One opportunity was with a 38 year old male, I’ll call “Z”. When I visited him in the hospital, upon the request of his sister, “Z” told me that had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was facing a chemotherapy treatment plan. As we talked, he broke into tears when he shared with me the possibility that he would never leave the hospital. I grabbed his hand and words of encouragement began to flow from my mouth. He confessed that he had not been in church in over 20 years, that he had lived a hard life as a truck driver and just didn’t know how God could forgive him. I assured him that forgiveness was his in Jesus and if he, by faith, would give Jesus his old life, that Jesus would give him new life in return. A life of supernatural hope, peace and love that he could experience despite his serious prognosis. So, on a Monday morning, just before I went for a CT scan, “Z” gave his life to Christ. Please pray that this confession will take deep root and that “Z” will be drawn into a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

I visited another gentleman in the hospital following surgery to remove a blockage in his small intestine that had caused him a great deal of discomfort. The surgery went well and he was looking forward to going home to his family. He was released from the hospital but later received a pathology report that revealed that he has a very rare form of intestinal cancer. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy with additional surgery on the horizon. I shared my diagnosis with him and all of a sudden, our relationship deepened.   All of a sudden he felt I could understand better. He has always been cordial during our interactions but now he gladly received prayer and has sought my counsel on when and how to share this news with his children, his co-workers and his friends. We talk on a weekly basis
for updates and to encourage each other.

So, here we have an opportunity to experience Romans 8:28 which says: “For we know that God causes all things to work together for good so those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” The Lord is at work. I believe that either He is deepening my faith so I can more effectively minister and/or He is purifying me. Perhaps there is some dross on my heart that inhibits the fullness of the Spirit to work or that keeps me from being an accurate reflection of Christ to those He puts in my path. Whatever the reason, God knows the outcome.

I have told Peggy this and I may have shared it with you and, if so, forgive me for repeating myself. “I don’t know where this road leads but I know Who paved it”.

If you are prompted to pray for me, please pray for Peggy also. We are asking that the Lord use this for His glory and for our strengthening. I would also ask that you pray that the surgery will be adequate and that no radiation treatment will be necessary.

Your partnership with us in ministry is a gigantic encouragement and because of your support, I am able to share the love of Christ in the workpalce with many who have never been to church or have been away from it for a long time. I don’t know how many people have shared with me that, as a result of my encouragement, they are actively visiting churches to find one that they can become involved in. You enable that through your gifts of support. THANK YOU!!! And God bless you.

To Know Him, To Make Him Known,

 

What does your earnest prayer sound like?

When I slow down and earnestly desire for God to act on my life, my prayer goes something like this…

In the name of Jesus and with the authority of my name having been written in His blood at the base of the cross, by the all encompassing power of the Holy Spirit and totally engulfed by His love, I humbly fall on my face before your throne of grace and ask that you God might (fill in request here).  

I follow up with God, I'm not smart enough to know if this fits within your design for abundance in my life.  If it is all the same to you, I'd really like for you to act on this request.  But if you have something better planned, I'm ok with that.  I anxiously wait to see you work the perfection of your will and purpose in my life.  Thank you, Jesus.

Then I wait with an expectatious spirit…

Paul said it like this: "I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with and for me—to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the Spirit—that I will be delivered from the lions' den of unbelievers in Judea. Pray also that my relief offering to the Jerusalem believers will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given. Then, God willing, I'll be on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being refreshed by your company. God's peace be with all of you. Oh, yes!"

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

For more GodSpots – 37stories Enjoy!

A miraculous healing! Wish I’d been there.

A while back, three o’clock in the afternoon, a couple guys were on their way to church for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set on the curb, to beg from those going into church. When he saw the guys about to enter, he asked for a handout.  They looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

One guy said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

The cripple went into the church with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging on the curb and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

Wished I’d been there.  Maybe on the bus…

archie’s Life Stream and Bus Across America and PhotoBucket.  GOD SPOT AWESOME!

60/60 Healing – God Spot!

Readers: I want to apologize in advance.  I did not have the direct permission to publish this and desire to give total credit to the participants.  So if you’d like to comment or email me, it’s ok.  I’ll be pleased to add your full names.  I did not want to infringe on anyones privacy, but did not want to miss an opportunity for the world to know the grace of God!

The God Spot goes like this … ”I wanted to share this with you and include you in the happenings of our group as we go through the 60/60 study. Two weeks ago, we began group as always sharing prayer requests and praise reports from the previous week.

After praying for the beginning of our study, one of the ladies interrupted me and shared a burden that was obviously weighing her down. As she shared, I began to sense that she was in an incredible spiritual battle and had even experienced the opression of the enemy not only as she was trying to share, but also the night before as she was asked to pray for her brother-in-law and literally couldn’t speak because of the weight she felt on her throat.

We gathered around her that night and laid hands on her and prayed for her. This is her story she wrote for me to share with you: “As I started my study on 60/60 Soul Revolution, I was really excited as to how the Lord was going to use me. I really did not know what He had planned for me.

My brother-in-law Lalo started feeling very ill with a lot of pain. We went to see him at the hospital when it happened. The Lord spoke to me and I was too scared to listen. The enemy held me back and installed fear in my soul. My husband and I did not speak a word on the way home about my situation.

On Wednesday night at our Bible study, I mentioned the situation and they all prayed over me. I felt the love of my sisters in Christ and the love of God all over me. The following day we visited my brother-in-law again. This time I was well prepared and listened.

As we walked in the room, all was dark and gloomy and he looked lost and hopeless. Dovtor’s diagnosed his illness as a fungus that overtook his body. At that moment I felt it was now or never. Lalo looked at me and I asked if he needed prayer. He nodded yes as he became teary eyed.  As I prayed I thought, well I did it. The Lord was not done yet.

As I asked everyone to please leave the room for a few minutes, I kneeled in front of Lalo, took his hand in mine and I made it very clear that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. I needed to ask him one question. “Would you like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” As to my surprise, being 30 years in the family and praying for him, he said yes.

I lead him into the prayer of salvation which somehow was spoken in Spanish when I normally do not speak to him in Spanish. After that the Lord was pleased. You could see the room light up with love and hope.

As he went into surgery he said his eyes were focused on Jesus Christ and only Him. We all smiled as he went into surgery. Two hours later we get a call to the surgery waiting room and Lalo left a message saying that Jesus smiled upon him. I just want to thank God for allowing me the privilege of reaching someone and bringing him into the Kingdom of God through salvation.

Listening and obeying…there’s times His voice is so soft that you have to be still, other times it is as loud as thunder. All we have to do is listen.

Your sister in Christ, Mary ………… The story is so much richer when you know the background of their relationship and the many, many conversations she has had with him over the years. And of course, this happened the week we were talking about listening to God. God is SO good.

Enjoy Him today, Nancy”

Greg Coplen’s Story

Guest post by Greg Coplen (originally on Greg’s facebook).  He issues a challenge:

 

I think that Jeff Harris did a series entitled something like “What’s your story” recently so I may be stealing the title from him.

 

People are inspired and moved by life-change. Seeing someone else rise from the ashes makes us want to do the same.

 

I’ve heard that any good testimony has three parts: What life was like, What happened, What life is like now. Many of you know my story, but I’m going to give another brief run-down for reasons that will become clear later.

 

What life was like:

My life was in shambles. It had started out well enough. I started in full-time ministry back when I was 24 years old as a Music Director at a local church. Through the years though my alcoholism, which I had been fighting since my late teens, began to overtake anything and everything that I deemed important until it finally overtook me. By the time I reached 30 years old I was jobless, homeless (in a physical and spiritual sense) and in horrible physical condition. I didn’t really eat or take care of myself other than just enough to get by for the day. Alcohol had become my meal of choice. I was no longer welcome in my family’s life. Everything in my life that I truly loved had been taken away.

 

What happened:

Aug. 8th 2005: I was driven to University Hospital in San Antonio, TX and spent a few days there detoxing from alcohol. I was then driven to a treatment center in Fredericksburg, TX where I began a recovery program. I had no hope that it would work because nothing ever had before. But, what I did have was the knowledge that I could not go back to the way life was because I knew that I would kill myself.

 

So, I asked God to walk with me one step, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. I asked Him to take away the desire to drink. I asked Him to give me my family back and I asked that I would allow Him to guide each of my steps.

 

In short I began a process of exchanging my own life for a life that I hoped would not only exemplify Christ in me, but would truly be Christ in me. For some it happens overnight, for others it is a process. But, what I know is that God heard my prayers and saw my desire to be the person He had called me to be.

 

What life is like now:

In short: incredible! I’m on a journey that is so much more than just recovery. I’m on a journey that challenges me to love people I don’t want to love, to walk with those in whose steps I have already taken, and to be open and authentic about who I used to be and who I am now.

 

There is no place and no time for hiding my past. If my past and my mistakes can be a part of leading someone else to the Cross then what a blessing that is to me.

 

I’m on a journey to be the husband, the father and the friend that He has called me to be. I’m on a journey to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself.

 

Finally, I’m on a journey to let go of all that I hold dear and recognize that it’s all just a gift from God. I’ve been given the responsibility to take care of it while it’s in my possession.

 

Am I up for the challenge? Today I am!

I’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

 

So, the question is, what’s your story? I would love to hear it and so would the rest of the world.

 

I’m going to put this on my profile for the FB world to see.

 

Are you willing to share your story?

 

Surf on over to Greg Coplen Facebook and leave your story.  Thanks Greg.  This is incredibly encouraging!  God bless.

God Spot Verified

From my friend Faith.  What a great name!

My Thoughts:
Jeremiah 10:6
No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

So…most of you know that this last week was pretty intense for my family. I received the call Friday evening from my parents telling me that my mom had been having chest pains, had been to a cardiologist, and that she would have a heart catheterization (with stints or bypass) on Monday. My entire family rushed to Missouri to be with my mom and dad. My mom was having all the symptoms of a heart attack on Sunday and was taking nitroglycerin. On Monday, the doctor told us that my mom had some anomalies (defects) and 2 clogged and calcified coronary arteries. He told us that he was pretty sure that she was going to have a triple bypass. We rallied, prayed, and hoped for the best.

An hour passed and the doctor came out with a perplexed expression on his face. He said, “She’s fine. Actually she is better than fine. Her arteries have zero plague and no calcification. Being 65, she should have some but she doesn’t. Not only is she plague free, but the abnormalities on the CAT scan just aren’t there anymore. I cannot explain it, and I called 3 other doctors in to look…God must have performed a miracle.”

My mom went home that evening and has had no chest pain or any symptoms. My mom says that all her symptoms went away shortly before they wheeled her into the procedure room and that it was fascinating to watch the doctors freaking out because they didn’t see what they thought they would. They even checked to make sure they had the right CAT scan.

I am praising God because I truly believe He healed my mom…a mighty demonstration of His power. As you pray and listen to God this week, what is God demonstrating to you?

I Could Command, but…

“As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.

If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.”  Paul

It seems Paul had the authority to command this or that to be done.  He chose to allow those who “owed him” the opportunity to do based on their love for him.  He reminded them of the debt, but much preferred they exceed his expectations out of love.

That is much like the relationship we have with Christ.  God created man.  He is in authority over us because He created us.  God has certain expectations of us.  He could command us to do this or that.  Sometimes, I think He does.  But you know, He much prefers we exceed His expectations out of love.

Creation alone is enough justification for authority and the right to tell us what to do, but when God suffered even as His Son suffered on the cross His authority was further authenticated.  As Paul said, “… you owe your life to me”.  As believers, we owe God our life because He created us and doubly owe Him our life as He saved us from eternal Hell and gave us eternal life.

This prompts me to consider: What command has God directed to you and I, that He much prefer we do out of love and exceed His expectations?  I wonder if it is even possible to exceed God’s expectations?

Is it ever wise to do battle with the evil one?

Recent life experiences, dreams and an extended read from a blog by the Bajanpoet of Barbados has got me thinking.  I wonder if it is wise to do battle with the evil one?

In the Word there is the story of a single Godly prophet challenging the prophets of baal.  I figure they were the prophets of the evil one.  Certainly, God’s prophet challenged them with fire from heaven and torched them.  As I recall, it actually cost them their life.

Then, I remember the story about the men attempting to be of God challenging the evil spirits in a man and received a thrashing by the spirits.   I hope I got the story right. 

Yesterday, I spoke words into the comment field of a blog that was obviously evil.  I was offended by his unGodly character and chose to speak kind words, fully expecting kindness to be repaid with venom.  I was not disappointed. 

Now the question becomes, when is it wise to do battle with the evil one?  I may have posted my comments out of distaste, but my motive may have been for the sport of poking the evil one.  I wonder if there is wisdom in poking the evil one for the sport of it?

60/60 and God’s Love

We at Grace Point have taken the 60/60 challenge.  We are to turn our thoughts to Jesus every 60 minutes.  We set our watch or whatever to beep every 60 minutes as a reminder of the challenge. 

My reaction to the beep has been interesting.  Sometimes, I am refreshed to stop and take note of God’s presence.  Other times, I am initially annoyed by the interruption when I am deep in thought.  The annoyance is quickly followed with a “forgive me” and then a continued appreciation for the grace of God.

We are only a few days into the challenge or experiment.  I am enjoying the event.  I am looking forward to what the impact will be on me and those I pray for during the next 60 days.  I expect a plethora of God Spots. 

Plethora.  That’s a good word.