An Altar In Our Life

Sister Janet Trout preached a message with that title last Sunday night. It was an awesome message. No matter how busy we are in life, no matter our struggles or victories that we are going through we need to have an altar.

A place where we communicate with God. A place that is set apart so that when we walk into the area we know this is where we get ahold of God.

We can relate to this place because of past experiences where God met us and we "had a little talk" about our problems and God answered our prayers.

It can be in a special room at your house or a place outdoors. I have prayed many times in the city park about a mile from my house where I look over the Chesapeake Bay and watch the sun rise.

Pray for Malaysia Missions

I ask you to help me pray for this mission field (click on title). The pictures under the subtitle Malaysia are pictures from the two churches that they have already built there in Malaysia.

My sister Cindi and her husband Danny are in Maylasia now to accomplish the following :
1. visit potential sites for next building, April 2009
2. visit building material supply house to price lumber and see what all is available that can help or improve our process.
3. if time permits, visit Bongkol and Pias


They are planning on going back in April to build another church. They have asked Curtis to go with them when they return to Malaysia. Pray for their safety and God's continued wisdom in this endeaver.

A Call For United Prayer

I received this today via email so I thought I would share it with you here!

Someone has said if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.

Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation.

If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

Please forward this to your praying friends

A Lesson on Prayer and Fasting To Our Youth Group Dated 2003

I ran across this in my notes and thought I would share since it goes with what we have been discussing! It was used for a Saturday morning prayer meeting with our youth. I would encourage you to read some of my "Favorite Links For Great Reading" blogs because there are some awesome things happening across our great country. People are praying everywhere. They want an "old time revival"!


Things to Pray Against:


Rebellion - Going against what your parents and youth leaders tell you, because you feel like it.


Lying - Living a lie, act like you are a Christian at church but treat your family and others like you are the devil. No respect for your parents, teachers, elders etc...


Cheating - Telling your parents that you are done with your homework when you know that you need to work on a book report or another project. Or telling your quiz coach you have studied when you know that you didn’t review your old material like you were asked. White Lies?? No such thing!!


Deceitfulness - Doing and saying things that are not right and trying to hide your involvement or act like you are an innocent bystander, when you were the ringleader that started the problems.


Envy - Wishing that you were as good as someone else, to the extent that you start trying to do or say things behind their back to discredit them. “I’ll be glad when they learn to preach or sing”


Discord - Taking things out of context and repeating with our own added comments. “Maybe he meant...” or “She said this, which she probably meant...” Leave things alone a let God work it out!


Strife - If we involve ourselves in the above it can lead to friction (strife) and bigger problems. Which the bible refers to having a problem with our foundation and that God would bring it to light by trial (I Corinthians 3:11-21). We are also warned that we can devour ourselves and that those who involve will get their reward in time to come (Galatians 5: 14-21).


Things we need to pray for:


Lost souls - That we could hear the cry of their heart, and see the longing in their eyes to know God!


Open doors - A break through to minister in area schools, youth centers, half-way houses.
Revival - Through-out our church family. Not just among a few of the youth, but let it go to all the families in the church. ( I used actual examples here from some of our church folk) Pray someone through to the Holy Ghost at a nursing home and some one else at work and maybe one of the youth teaching a bible study at school.


Fasting, Why?


To overcome - Some things only happen as a result of prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21)


The need to call a fast - Joel 1:14 (Sanctify a fast)


Set a specific day - Jeremiah 36:6 (upon the fast day) We set Wed’ as fast day


How to and not to fast - Matthew 6:16-18 ( be not, but do & appear not)


What fasting makes you do - Psalms 35:13 ( I humbled myself)


The continuing command - I Corinthians 7:5 (give yourselves to fasting & prayer)


Paul fasted as example and with awesome results - II Corinthians 6:4-10 ( In fastings)


Jesus fasted with awesome results - John 4 ( one woman and a whole city saved!)


Prayer and Fasting can help us:

Break Generational problems - Mom & Dad an alcoholic, so I’m going to be an alcoholic. NO!! Mom & Dad talk down about the church, Pastor, and leadership so I’m going to. No!! Parents skip church for a ball game, party etc...

We want endtime Revival:

Book of Acts - If it can happen there then we should be seeing it here. We have seen it in the Philippines where hundreds were filled with the spirit, we need to see it here. If we can lift our hands there in the Philippines and in less than two minutes God fills 76 with the Holy Ghost( our youth group was there on a mission trip!). Then we can see it happen right here in Cecil County and in your schools and your work places!! We ought to have a youth service @ Cecil Community College in the auditorium that seats 450 !!


There is strength and unity when we pray and fast together!!



Some one said Prayer moves God and Fasting moves us!


Some one else said Fasting moves us so God can work through us!


Fasting actually helps us to bring our flesh (fleshly spirits and lusts) under control so God can trust us with a mighty move of his power!!

Order My Steps..

There is a popular Christian song that says" Order my steps in your word etc... I feel that God can guide all of our steps if we let him. I have mentioned before about how God takes care of us.

Several years ago we were wanting to get involved with outreach to the nursing homes and other areas of ministry to encourage people. But we needed a keyboard and amplifier among other things. So we kept praying and doing the best we could.

One night a visitor came to church he was an older gentleman. I went by and shook his hand and I ended up teaching him Bible Studies for several weeks at his house. He came every Sunday morning for awhile. Then he started missing some and when I called he told me was was sick. Within a few weeks I found out he had cancer and he died. I went to his funeral and met some other ministers that were there and come to find out he had two half brothers in Canada.

Those brothers are pastoring Pentecostal Churches and they were glad that I had spent time with their brother before he passed away. They had prayed for years for him to get his heart right with God. I explained his experience and the many times we had prayed together and they rejoiced.

I went to the store about three weeks later and met his wife and she asked me to come by and see her. So I went by and she gave me a card. She told me that her husband had left the youth group some money because he was thankful for all that we were doing for God. God has a way of taking care of us if we do our part.

It was enough to purchase an excellent keyboard and amplifier plus other things to help us in or efforts of ministry. I contacted his half brothers at General Conference and they were so excited that his legacy would live on especially after their 50+ years of praying for him!

Miracles are Happening!

God still answers prayer!

That is what I heard when I called a brother in church yesterday. He has been out a lot lately with a cancerous tumor. He went in for surgery to remove it. The doctor told him that when they got him open that they could not find it.

The tumor that was on x-ray and had been confirmed as cancerous was gone! The brother said that prayer does work!! Miracles still happen today!

This is a result of our increased prayer and fasting as a church body! I am sure God is doing similar works all around the world! Keep praying! Keep fasting! Keep PUSHing!!

First Day of Volunteer Service!

Some may have noticed that I changed my header to include instructions on how to leave a comment. I constantly receive calls and emails from people that say they saw my blog or they read it everyday.

I ask them why they don’t leave a comment and their replies usually mention something along the line of I don’t know how. So that is why I tried to give them simple instructions. So bear with us as we move along in blog world! LOL!

Now on to today’s thoughts! Yesterday was my first day to volunteer at the hospital. I was supposed to be with someone that had been doing volunteer for over 10 years but he was sick and could not make it. So I went by myself and it was interesting. I was able to talk to several patients and to their families. Some asked me to pray with them and it was good.

I had left the hospital when I got a call to come back to ICU to help in a situation. When I arrived I called all the family in and had prayer with them. The staff was very thankful. I walked through a couple of times to check on them later and a friend had come to see them. She began to talk to me about God and how that knowing Jesus makes things a lot easier to handle! I said Amen! We talked for awhile and she just cried and we prayed in the hall. I invited her to church and she invited me to come by their church for prayer meeting. She goes to an Apostolic Church just a few blocks from the hospital.

When I was walking out of the hospital a family that started coming to church on our bus ministry was coming into the hospital. I asked them who they were going to see. They told me and asked me to go with them to the room I had just left. So we went up and I prayed with them as well.

The volunteer director was teasing me and said they don’t usually introduce someone to volunteer service in this fashion. She said it was a baptism by fire! LOL!! I told her after thirty years of being involved in ministry that I was OK!!

We never know why we are in a place at a particular time. But God does order our steps and I am so glad he does!

My Miracle of Volunteering!

I finished my training this week! I learned a lot that I will share with you on a later post. I will be able to go into any room at the local hospital and visit all the patients and families.

One thing I learned for this type of work is that you don't need the gift of gab but you need the gift of a willing ear. LOL!! I laugh because I have one ear that doesn't work at all. The other ear works with a hearing aid. Out of 200% hearing in both ears I have maybe a total of 30 % hearing. It helps me to stay humble and depend on God.

I am sure some of the people that I have worked with over the years can remind me of some slips when I thought I heard something and it was way off. Sometimes I do it on purpse but other times it was real. So I have had quite a time trying to hear what people are saying!

My hearing specialist that fitted me with a hearing aid several years ago told me that it was amazing. He said that most of my hearing loss was in the normal voice range of people talking. He asked me what I did as far as work and I told him that I was a minister and at that time I was a school teacher at Kent Christian Academy. He was just totally amazed at what God was using me to do for the Kingdom. He explained that he was involved in church and missionary work.

Before I left the office I asked him if we could pray. My wife & I prayed with Him. I prayed that God would bless his work and keep his hand on him and his ministry. God moved and we could feel his spirit in that office. My wife and I went home and a couple of hours later he called about the office visit .

He told me that God began to talk to him after we left and that he had ordered my hearing aid. I was shocked because I didn't have the money to pay for it. Then he said that it would be in his office in two weeks. He went on to tell me that there was no fee and that he would service it for life free of charge.

I have gone in several times and had it checked and he has brought staff in from other offices to meet me. We have always had prayer before we left. They spend more time talking about God and the church than anything else when I go in to see them.

So when I get involved with people I listen to them the best I can. Then I depend on God to fill in the blanks that I can't hear. I feel that is one reason that God has allowed me to be so sensitive to the attitudes and spirits of people. Because I have to spend a lot of time listening to God and he lets me know these things.

So it is a miracle of God that I can even be involved with this type of volunteer work.

Thank you Paul Harvey? Oops Nick Gohlson!

AMERICA

********* Get Ready *********

Paul Harvey says:I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like s omebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game Jerusalem, I would ex pect to hear a Jewish prayer.



If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.When in Rome...But what about the atheists? Is another argument.What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer! Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!God bless us one and al l ... especially those who denounce Him , God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let's make 2008 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions ... and our military forces come home from all the wars. Keep looking up. This story has been attributed to Paul Harvey but after a tip from an anonymous comment and a check with Snopes most of it was actually written by Nick Gohlson. He is a sports writer for the Times Record News in Witchita Falls Texas.

The Casual Christian

Matthew 25
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
This is the first of three parables in this chapter the second parable deals with the servants and what they did with their talents that the master had given them.
The third parable deals with taking care of Jesus when we take care of the least of these.

In this first story Jesus tells about the virgins that were engaged to be married. They all knew that the bridegroom was coming to get them. They knew as was the custom in that day that the bridegroom went to prepare a place for them.

Sometimes the preparation would take months even into a year or more for all the arrangements to be made for the bride. Land had to be made ready. The house had to be built and preparations to be made for the great day when he brings his bride home.

The brides had preparations that they had to make as well as far as what she needed to be comfortable in her new house. Maybe even to collecting specials spices and things that could not be found in the area of her new home.

But with all her preparations the bride had to be ready at all times to go and meet her bridegroom. He may come today because he has finished his work and is all ready for her. So he comes to claim his bride and he is excited.

The problem is that five of the virgins did not have enough oil in their lamp to go meet the bridegroom. They may have made preparations and got a lot of things done. But they missed the one important thing and that was having oil in their lamp to meet their bridegroom.

Today the church is being driven to be like the five foolish virgins. Let’s get this done and that done. Let’s be sure that we are at church and have our lesson ready.

Be sure we have our class all decorated and everything in place. But we really don’t have our heart in it. We just do what is expected and keep up with the Jones so to speak. So we become casual Christians.

We really are not ready for the bridegroom to come. We are casual in our approach to our duties as leadership and teachers. It is too easy and too common for us to rush in at the last minute and put things together.

When you really think about it we probably didn’t pray like we should this week or last week. Maybe if we thought about it we may not have worshipped in service Wednesday night like we should have worshipped. Maybe we didn’t witness at work this week like we could have or should have witnessed. The casual Christian thinks like the foolish virgin and thinks I will have more time before the bridegroom comes, to get things in order.

I am at least showing up for church or work day or Sunday School class. I gave five dollars in the offering. Then God begins to try to break through and we remember a student that is struggling or a new convert that needs to be contacted. God gives you an opportunity to change.

God tries to help you to overcome the blight of the casual Christian. He will try to guide your path if you would let Him.

Sometimes we get so casual we think that we can just show up at church and we have done our duty to God for the day or week. Then we become more casual and come dressed casual as well. It becomes a mind set with us. I can’t be used in the class or on the platform because I dressed casual today.

What we don’t realize is that when we are in that mind set we don’t listen to God as well. I have seen people that are not in tune with God because of the way they just casually show up for church make some big mistakes. I have heard them speak out of turn or say things that were casual and hurt people. They really didn’t mean harm but they just didn’t know that the brother or sister was going through a hard time and it was the straw that broke the camels back.

Don’t try to be casual with someone that you have not spent time with at the altar or over a cup of coffee or at the mall or fishing hole. For instance when I heard that Jessica was getting married I teased her and asked how much she had to pay the guy.

She laughed and said that she had to promise not to talk. Well she already had broken that promise and I told her she would have to give the ring back.

I can do that with Jessica because I have stayed in touch with her for several years. My wife and I have prayed with her and counseled her. We have rejoiced and cried with her.

It goes back to getting everything in order. The oil represents the anointing of the Holy Ghost. We need to spend time in prayer everyday. We need to be here on Tuesday night for our church prayer time or thirty minutes early for every service so God can move us together in the Spirit. We need to lay up prayer so we can be sensitive to the Spirit of God and speak the right words to someone and encourage them.

I don’t know how many times I have contacted someone and later, sometimes months later they would get back with me and thank me for encouraging them. I didn’t remember what I said, then I realized that God had given me the words to speak and I just tell them I am His servant and it wasn’t me it was Him.

Don’t fall into the trap of a casual Christian! Let’s be ready for the bridegroom to come back for us. We will hear Him say “well done thou good and faithful servant!”

Breathe On Me Breath of God

I came across this song the other day by Edwin Hatch 1878.

Breathe on me, breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God, Blend all my soul with Thine, Until this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.

It is my prayer for God to breathe on me or through me and then I can show others His way!