What prayer SHOULD be

Wow it has been longer than I thought since I last wrote. I hope that you will forgive my neglect.

I wrote the following yesterday in preparing for our Encounter worship service. Some of it is original, other parts probably came from other places and other things that I have read over the years. I offer it here for God's glory not my own, so enjoy.

Prayer is more than talking to God about sick people.

Prayer should be our heart reaching out in desperation for the heart of God.

Prayer should be our heart reaching out with boundless joy for God’s heart.

Prayer should be our born from our brokenness reaching out to the heart of God for healing.

Prayer should be an over flow of love from our heart to the heart of God.

Prayer should be an abundance of thankfulness from our heart to the heart of God.

Prayer should be a bending our spirit in submission God’s Spirit.

Prayer should be an act of worship from a repentant heart seeking to lift up God so that all can see.

Prayer should be an exercise of the Spirit that leaves us breathless and ready for God’s refilling.

Prayer should be an emptying of everything we love in this world so God can fill us with everything we need.

Prayer should be so draining that our knees are weak and we need God to support us just so we can walk after we are done.

We have all heard it said that prayer changes things, and there is power in prayer, but the first thing that prayer changes is us. The power that comes to bear must first come to bear in our lives, before prayer makes an impact on others.

We have yet to see the full changes and power that prayer can bring in this church, because we have not prayed as we should.

We have yet to lay our hearts bare and naked before God, we can voice nice prayers for people but yet still have a wall surrounding our hearts.

We have yet to learn how to pray like King David who laid everything out to God in prayer. Every deep emotion, both good and bad. Every thought, brought to God for his consideration.

We have yet to learn how to pray like Jesus, who bore his soul in the garden. Thinking about his disciples and looking forward to the day that we would be sitting here, tonight worshiping God.

I have come to the conclusion that if revival is going to start at this church it is going to start on a night like tonight. When we come before God with our heart seeking God’s heart, not just wording some prayer for sick people but lamenting before His throne because of the condition of this world, lamenting because of the condition of our hearts, and lament because of the condition of Jesus Church in this place.

Randomness

I know it has been a while since I posted But I thought I would post a few random thoughts before I head out to eat lunch with my wife.

Thought number:
1. Thank God for "Global Warming" imagine how cold it would be without it.

2. It is really nice having your wife work in the same county you live in.

3. A good curveball is hard to hit in baseball, but even harder to hit when life throws one at you.

4. 5th graders are heathens (mine included) but God still loves them.

5. Most adults are heathens too, but God still loves them also.

6. Can fire freeze, I think I will go out and build one and find out?.....Yep, it sure can.

7. Diet--is it a coincidence that the biggest part of the word is DIE?.....Nope, I don't think so.

8. If the world judges the Church by the signs it puts out in front of our buildings, is there any wonder people think the church is full of geeks. "Don't give up, Moses was once a basket case." That just screams "GEEK" to me.

Well I hope to get back to blogging on a regular basis. Got any random thoughts give me a comment and let me know.

Shalom,
Randy

Will the world stop spinning in 2009?

Can you believe that this is the last day of 2008. As hard as it is to believe it is true. 2008 was a tough year. We lost some really good people this year. Boots Blocksom, Bud Chestnut, and Johnny Miller. The memory of their love and faith will stand as a testament to their commitment to Jesus.

The biggest story of the year locally has to be the great flood of 2008. Seeing three feet of water just outside my back yard is not a sight I care to see again. If I see another sand bag it will be too soon.

What will happen in 2009? I have no idea. My guess is that the world will keep spinning, Washington will keep throwing money out, like a parade float throws candy. And Hollywood will keep making movies.

As for ECC in 2009? We are going to once again become an Acts 2:42 community. We are going to devote ourselves to Jesus teachings, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer, and to praising God together. If we accomplish those things this year, then God will be glorified, the body of Christ at ECC will be strengthened, and Jesus will be lifted up.

I hope you will join us in 2009 and make this year, a year we become an Acts 2:42 community.

Global Warming?

Snow in Vegas? Global Warming? Hey Al Gore, help me understand this theory please?

How do you pray?

Ever feel like prayer is a one sided conversation?

Maybe it seems that way, because too often it is.

I confess this is a struggle for me, I think that every second my head is bowed and my eyes are closed I need to be saying something. Maybe, what we need to sit back and allow Jesus a few words. I am know that there are times, He has something to say but he can't get a word in edge wise.

Will we ever learn that prayer is a conversation and not a monologue?

Holy Is the Lord

This is going to be our invitation song for the the month of December. Chris Tomlin is one artist that is very quickly becoming an all time favorite of mine.

The New Dollar Bill

I am thinking that this might be a good idea , especially in light of the recent finical distress.