PRAY CENTRAL
FLORIDA
Dear
Fellow Prayer Warrior, November, 2006
Greetings in the name of the
Lord. Tuesday November 7th will be a critical
day for our nation. Much hangs in the balance including which party leads the
U.S. House and Senate. As Christians we have a responsibility to pray, vote and
encourage others to vote according to biblical standards. The following voter
guides are available to help in that process. Christian Coalition: www.ccfla.org/guides.php, Florida
Family Policy Council: www.FLfamily.org,
Florida Catholic Conference: informedvoter.thefloridacatholic.org/.
The Florida
Family Policy Council needs volunteers to collect signatures for the Marriage
Amendment to go on our ballot in 2008. If you can help out for just an
hour or more in the morning or in the afternoon on Tuesday November 7,
2006 (or all day) in your area at a local polling place collecting petitions
please e-mail Nathan Dunn at NathanD@FLfamily.org and tell him 1)
your address and your phone number, 2) what times you can help, and 3) the name
of your church. Please include all this information. You can also
call Nathan directly at 407-716-7268. He will get back with
you.
Mission America likes what they have seen so far of a
movie due out December 1st. It is the story of the birth of Jesus
and is called The Nativity Story. Trailers are available on the movie web site www.thenativitystory.com.
Florida Prayer Network election prayer points
Florida
Prayer Network can be reached at fpn@floridaprayer.org or www.floridaprayer.org
Marketplace Focus Groups
Marketplace Focus
Groups will continue on the Thursday nights November 2nd, 16th
and 30th at 7:30 p.m. at Florida Christian University, 5950 Lakehurst Drive,
Orlando. These groups will
encourage, envision and equip people to have an impact for the Kingdom at their
place of work. Please call Judy at 407-905-0444 for details.
See page 2 for Current Prayer Events
An E-mail version of this
newsletter (with more stuff!) is also available - send me an E-mail to sign up.
See this newsletter on the web at www.christiansnet.com/praycf/praycf.htm.
George Kern, 405 East Jersey St, Orlando, FL 32806,
407-245-1132, praycf@juno.com
Pray
Central Florida Praying for Central Florida and encouraging the Church in
Central Florida to pray
PRAY CENTRAL
FLORIDA
Page 2 November,
2006
November 3rd
4th The Orlando Furnace Big Weekend Solid worship and prayer from Friday night at 6:00
p.m. until Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. See their web site www.orlandofurnace.com
for the schedule or e-mail Sharon at sharon@js-now.com
for details. The Location is The Porch, 720 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, just North of 50 and Orange. Note: this is the last Big Weekend
of 2006 and in 2007 it is scheduled to move to Ocoee.
November 9 12 Releasing of Eagles Conference. Speakers: John Paul Jackson, John Sandford, Bobby
Conner, Bart Malone. Youth track with Joe Manno. Location: Florida Mall Hotel.
Info: register@orlandobcf.com, www.orlandobcf.com, or call (407)
574-3309.
November 10-11 The
Truth Project training seminar. Designed to equip you to facilitate Focus
on the Family's DVD-based Christian Worldview lessons. Location: First Baptist
Church of Orlando. Cost: $119 (includes the DVD course). www.thetruthproject.org
November
11th - 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Aftercare Network Street meeting.
Networking ex-inmates and Aftercare Providers. Soul
Winners school at 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Location: Faith Christian Center in
Pine Hills. Call Chaplain Fleeks at 407-836-0384 for directions.
November 12 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - www.persecutedchurch.org
Weekdays
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. all day worship and prayer hosted by Love of Christ Ministries (Mack
McCambridge). Location: Faith World church, Orlando. Call 407-292-0966 for
info.
First and Third Mondays 6:00 p.m. - Strategic Intercession
for Sanford.
Location: Good Samaritan
Home 1704 W.9th Street Sanford, (W. of
17-92). Info: Thelma Mike 407-322-3321.
Tuesdays 6:00 a.m. - Sanford Ministerial Fellowship -
Pastors Praying for Sanford. Info: Jim
Bradshaw - 407-322-4371, jimbrdshw@bellsouth.net.
Tuesday
evenings - 6:00 p.m. Community Healing & Prayer Service. All Saints Church, 338 East
Lyman Av. Winter Park.
Call 407-647-3413 for info. www.allsaintswp.com.
Tuesday
evenings - 7:00 p.m. - Servants of the Most High Interdenominational
prayer group meets in the Longwood area. For more info, call Maureen at
407-332-7286.
Second Tuesday
6:30 p.m. Aglow womens
fellowship and prayer meeting for Apopka/Ocoee. Contact: Rhonda, 407-884-0238.
First
Wednesday of month 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Vision Orlando monthly
meeting. Prayer at 7:00. For more information e-mail steve@visionorlando.org.
Thursday
Evenings 7:30 p.m. Oviedo Healing
Rooms - Healing in the Name of
JESUS through the Power of GOD's Presence and Prayer. 145 W. Broadway Blvd., Oviedo. Call 407-529-7111 for
appointment (suggested but not necessary) www.OviedoHealingRoom.com.
Friday
evenings 7:30 p.m. International Concert of Prayer prayer for
Orlando, USA & the world. At Greaterlife Church in Oviedo, call Pastor Jeff Good
for information at 407-365-5950.
Third Friday of
month 11a.m. - Pray for the Troops
Praying for our troops in harms way. Location: 24/7 Prayer Room at The Porch,
720 North Orange Avenue, one block North
of Colonial Drive (50). Info: www.lzrussell.org/PrayForTheTroops,
or call Greg at 407-327-4422.
First Saturday of month - Prayer
for Muslims - 10:00 a.m.-Noon, Orlando. Peter Shadid - 240-6272.
Peter has a team reaching Muslims in
Kissimmee and can train people for outreach in Orlando.
Second
Saturday of month 9:00 a.m. - KNEC (Kingdom Network Empowering
Communities) 6864 Silver Star rd, Orlando. Contact: Pastor Helligar
407-299-6677.
Second and Third
Saturdays 5:00 a.m. City-wide Prayer
Meeting. Cornerstone Church of God, 1602 Bruton Blvd.,
Orlando. Sponsor: Pastor Mary Norman, 321-276-5352.
Third Saturday of month Prayer
for the Persecuted Church. Longwood. Email
amystrang@aol.com.
Daily - Lighthouse Report (with Steve Douglass) on the web at www.lighthousereport.com
And
here is the extra stuff you dont get with the snail mail version...
=================================
(1) Orlando Furnace Big Weekend November 3rd 4th
(2)
Community Health Fair, Single Moms and community Thanksgiving dinner
(3) CHURCHES
CAN DO PLENTY IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY
(4) The Truth Project
November 10 11 (repeated from last month)
(5)
A night to Honor Israel November 14th
(6) 'ONE NIGHT WITH THE
KING' MOVIE DEBUTS IN TOP 10
(7) Elections Matter - Don't Let Others Decide for You
Newt Gingrich
(8) Fellowship of the unashamed
(9) Symphony to God's Heart - Francis
Frangipane
*NPPN -
NATIONAL PASTORS' PRAYER NETWORK - US
A
Ministry Network Of The Mission America Coalition
OUR
VISION-
Identify
And Encourage Pastors' Prayer Groups In Cities And
Communities
Across
America So That Pastors Lead Their
People Into Praying For And Sharing Christ With Everyone In Our
Nation.
Subscribe
to the NPPN: http://www.nppn.org/subscribe.htm
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=757173&s=5913893>
***********************************************************
(1) Orlando Furnace Big Weekend November 3rd 4th
Note: the
following schedule was copied from www.orlandofurnace.com
From Friday, November
3 2006 - 6:00pm
To Saturday, November 4 2006 - 10:00pm
The first
weekend of each month is open for nonstop worship and prayer for central
Florida. Worship teams throughout metro-Orlando and Florida takes turns
participating. The style is a combination of prophetic worship mixed with
harp and bowl. Everyone is welcome to partipate by praying,
worshiping, and soaking in God's presence.
FRIDAY
6-7pm Shabbat Sabbath
7:30-9pm Song of Solomon prophetic worship and teaching
9-11pm Prophetic worship
11pm-1am Radical youth worship and prayer
SATURDAY
1-7am Audience of One
7-11am
Devotional worship
11am-noon Children's watch
noon-2pm Prayer and worship for America
2-4pm Prepare the Way- ministry to the homeless
4-7pm Prophetic worship; harp and bowl
7-9:00pm Radical healing worship and prayer
9:00pm
Special end of the year meeting and blessing
virginia@windsoffire.us;
sharon@js-now.com
THE FURNACE
**********************************************************
(2)
Community Health Fair, Single Moms and community Thanksgiving dinner
From: "Steve Bruton"
<Steve.Bruton@northlandchurch.net>
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:10:42 -0400
Subject: FW: Press Releases
Contact Person: Bootsie
Holian
Community United Methodist Church
4921 S. Highway 17-92
Casselberry, Florida 32707
407-831-3777
www.casselberrychurch.org
Event: Thanksgiving Dinner
Date of Event: Thursday,
November 23, 2006 Date to Publish: week
of
November 12, 2006
The people of Community Methodist Church will be serving a FREE
Thanksgiving dinner for the community.
The meal will be served at
11:30am in the fellowship hall.
If you would like to help cook or
serve, deliver meals, donate a turkey, side
dish or dessert, please call
Bootsie at 407-831-3777.
Reservations for the meal are encouraged!
Contact Person: Lisa Houck
Community United Methodist Church
4921 S.
Highway 17-92
Casselberry, Florida 32707
407-620-3389
www.casselberrychurch.org
Event: "Hope Party for
Single Moms"
Date of Event: Friday,
November 3rd
Date to Publish: week of
October 22nd
The Single Mom's Ministry at Community United Methodist Church is
holding its monthly Single Moms and Kids Hope
Night Party on Friday,
November 3rd from 6:30-9pm.
All single moms and kids are invited to
attend.
There will be activities and pizza for the kids and the moms
will be involved with a community outreach
project. There is no charge
for this event.
Please call Lisa at 407-620-3389 to register or for more
information.
Contact person: Diane
Thornton
Community United Methodist Church
4921 S. Highway 17-92
Casselberry, Florida 32707
(407) 831-3777
www.casselberrychurch.org
Event: Community Health Fair
Date of Event: Saturday,
November 4, 2006 Date to Publish: Week
of
October 22, 2006
We invite everyone to a FREE community health fair sponsored by
Community United Methodist Church and the Genesis Church. FREE
vision
screenings, HIV and Hepatitis tests, blood pressure
checks, cholesterol
and diabetes tests will be done. There will be mini educational
workshops and much information shared. Over 30 agencies will be
represented, including the Hispanic Health Initiative
and Seminole
County Health Department.
This is a Spanish and English speaking event.
The fair will take place on Saturday, November 4th from
9:30am-1:00pm at
Community United Methodist Church in Casselberry. Call 407-831-3777 for
more information.
Contact Person: Bootsie
Holian
Community United Methodist Church
4921 S. Highway 17-92
Casselberry, Florida 32707
407-831-3777
**************************************************************
(3) CHURCHES CAN DO PLENTY IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY
You might be surprised
what nonprofits are allowed to do when taking part in the political process.
The congressional midterm elections are
coming up this fall, and, as it usually does at election time, "the"
question has resurfaced: How far can churches and nonprofit groups legally go
in terms of involvement?
The answer, according to legal experts like Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the
American Center for Law and Justice, and Mat Staver, president of Liberty
Counsel, is that pastors and churches can do plenty.
"What pastors can do is not only encourage their people to be engaged in
the political process, and to vote a biblical worldview, but also, they can
talk about the key issues of the day," Sekulow told CitizenLink.
Saver, president of Liberty Counsel, points out that most churches and
ministries fall under the Internal Revenue Code's guidelines for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.
Only one area is specifically prohibited for such groups: advocating for or
against candidates.
But Staver said 501(c)3 groups clearly do have the
right to engage in educational campaigns during elections.
Staver said churches and nonprofits can also give their specific positions on
issues. For example, he said, a church could talk about abortion and give the biblical reasons for choosing life as opposed to
abortion.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Liberty Counsel and the American
Center for Law and Justice have guidelines on their Web sites for nonprofit
organizations engaging in political activity. (CitizenLink 8/21/06)
*****************************************************
(4)
The Truth Project November 10 11 (repeated from last month)
From: "Florida Family Policy Council" <actionalerts@floridafamilyaction.org>
To: "George Kern" <praycf@juno.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:18:56 -0500
Subject: The Truth Project is Coming to Florida
"You are going
to be amazed!"
The Truth Project is
coming to Orlando, FL
November 10-11, 2006
Dear Friends of the Florida Family Policy Council,
In our world today, we are
inundated with many messages-most of them rooted in false "truth
claims," lies set in direct opposition to the truth of God's Word. We call
this the cosmic battle, a battle for the hearts and minds of people. It is a
battle which pits the truth claims of God against the lies of the world, the
flesh and the devil. It is a battle over what you really believe.
Of course, when we, or the friends
and family members we love, buy into these empty and deceitful messages, we
suffer the consequences.
However, the good news is that God
desires to teach us to discern between truth and lies, building our lives on
the solid rock of His truth. This brings me to the reason I am writing you
today.
We are excited to announce the
launch of Focus on the Family's The Truth Project - a DVD based small group curriculum designed to impart a
systematic and comprehensive biblical worldview for all of life. This one project represents the
potential for exponential change within the body of Christ by transforming
believers through the renewing of hearts and minds (Romans 12:2). Watch clips from Del Tackett, Ravi Zacharias and Os Guinness on the
transforming power of The Truth Project You
will be amazed...
We invite you to participate in
this innovative ministry by attending The Truth Project Training Conference in
preparation to lead this innovative small group curriculum:
Dates:
Orlando, FL Nov 10-11
Location:
First Baptist Church of Orlando [added by George]
Cost: $119* per attendee or $149*
for attendee and spouse
* Includes The Truth Project DVD
set comprised of 12 lessons
(13 hours of total content)
Register today for The Truth Project
Training Conference HERE:
(www.thetruthproject.org/events/
) [web site added by George]
I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
John Stemberger
President, Florida Family Policy Council
www.FLfamily.org
*******************************************************
(5) A night to Honor Israel November 14th
Youve heard about Christians United for Israel
you know that God blesses those who bless Israel,
you want to show your support and learn
more. This is your opportunity to hear Pastor John
Hagee speak on why Christians should honor Israel. Experience the passion, the
anointing, the excitement of standing with Christian brothers and sisters from
around the United States as they bless Israel and reach out to the Jewish
community at two very special Nights to Honor Israel.
Also, hear the Jewish dignitaries,
enjoy Hebrew music, and even experience singing the U.S.
National Anthem and Israels National Anthem
Hatikva as we give a show of Christian solid
support of solidarity with Israel. This event is hosted
by Stephen Strang.
Monday
night, November 13th
New
Life Christian Fellowship
2701
Hodges Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32224
Tuesday,
November 14th 7 pm
Calvary
Assembly
1199
Clay Street, Winter Park, FL 32789
**************************************************************
(6) 'ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING' MOVIE DEBUTS IN TOP 10
From: INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA
<ifa@ifapray.org>
To: praycf@juno.com
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 21:56:22 -0500
(EST)
Subject: On Watch in Washington
'ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING' MOVIE DEBUTS IN TOP
10
The biblical story of
Queen Esther
According to the Los Angeles Times,
Gener8Xion Entertainment Inc.'s biblical saga 'One Night With the King,'
featuring Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif, fared slightly better than expected,
placing ninth with an estimated gross of $4.3 million. The movie is "an
epic adventure that follows a young Jewish orphan who rises from peasant to
Queen of Persia only to face the annihilation of her people."
INTERCESSORS FOR
AMERICA
P O Box 915 Purcellville, VA
20134
Fax 540-751-0984 ifa@ifapray.org web:
http://www.ifapray.org
*************************************************************
(7) Elections Matter - Don't Let Others Decide for You
Newt Gingrich
From: "Judy Braland" <prayerforce@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 20:20:56 -0500
Subject: Elections Matter - Don't Let Others Decide for You
Greetings All:
The information below is an encouraging word
and notable of sending to on to our spheres of influence to get out and
vote! (Need we mention the need for prayer as well?)
Judy
Subject: Elections Matter - Don't Let Others Decide for You
The Online Resource for Christian Leader
(CR) An election is a choice between two futures, and in this election, no less than the future of our great nation is at stake. We cannot simply let others decide for us. America's best days are either ahead of us or behind us, but it is up to us to win the future that our nation deserves.
There is no attack on American culture more destructive and more historically dishonest than the unending war against God in American public life.
This minority worldview is completely at odds with the overwhelming majority of Americans. Yet, it has been systematically imposed on us over the last fifty years in an effort to remove religious expression from the public square.
The Classroom and the Court
In both the courts and the classrooms, radical secularists are replacing 219 years of American religious freedom and political liberty with a revisionist version of American history.
For two generations, we have passively accepted this assault on the values of the overwhelming majority of Americans.
America simply cannot be explained without understanding the centrality of God to our nation. Yet, too many schools spend too little time studying the Founding Fathers and even less teaching what they had to say about God.
Rewriting History in the Classroom
Radical secularists do not want students to examine too closely the Declaration of Independence because it contains America's central premise: We are "endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights". The only intellectually honest explanation for this phase is that Thomas Jefferson believed our rights come from God alone. That is an explanation they simply cannot accept.
From their perspective, if we could only avoid teaching about Jefferson, we would not have to deal with the fact that our third president attended church services in the United States Capitol building. They could omit the fact that Benjamin Franklin proposed opening each session of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 with a prayer. They could forget that our first president, George Washington, placed his right hand on his family Bible during his first inauguration in 1789, and then added the phrase "So help me God." They could gloss over the fact that Abraham Lincoln made fourteen references to God and quoted the Bible twice in his second inaugural address of only seven-hundred and one words.
Some special interests groups wants to avoid these historical facts because they do not want to acknowledge God. Understood. But, why should their political agenda determine our children's education?
If you sit out this election, you are choosing their future by deciding to accept their agenda.
Rewriting History in the Courts
The Supreme Court has seen fit to rule against God in the American public square time and again, even as they sit inside of a building surrounded by religious imagery. Most prominent among them are a depiction of Moses and an engraving of the Ten Commandments over the chair of the Chief Justice, each affirming our Judeo-Christian roots.
In case after case brought by radical secularists, activist judges have virtually made God into an outlaw. The Court has ruled against school prayers and Bible studies, and even prohibited voluntary prayer before football games. Most recently, a California court reaffirmed the Ninth Circuit Court ruling that the phrase "one nation, under God" was unconstitutional.
They are using the courts to meet their political objectives. But why should we accept appointed lawyers' edicts on how faith can be expressed in the public square?
If you sit out this election, you are choosing their desire for enforced secularism.
The Choice Between Two Futures
We are, and always have been, one nation "under God."
Each morning in our nation's capital, the first rays of sunlight illuminate a 555-foot shrine to the Father of our Country -- the Washington Monument. Inscribed on the eastern side of its aluminum capstone, visible to Heaven alone, are the Latin words "Laus Deo" (Praise be to God).
Imagine how different America would be if the Founders had begun the Constitution with the words "we the government" instead of "we the people."
Some will not accept these historic facts, and they don't want you to know about them. But their argument is not with those of us who want to keep God at the heart of public life; their argument is with the founders themselves.
Their only hope is to keep you from voting.
But we can defeat their political agenda by speaking the truth.
America was founded on a revolutionary proposition penned by Thomas Jefferson; a proposition that proclaimed that our rights are the grant of God, not of any king or government.
There are millions of Americans just as frustrated as we are with the fact that that those of us who want to keep God in the public square are vastly underrepresented in our state capitols and in Washington.
But here's the rub. If we don't mobilize our voters to vote for those who share and will defend our values and against those who reject them, how can we expect anything to change?
An election is a choice between two futures.
Disengagement is NOT the answer. Full participation in our American democracy is.
We owe it to all those who sacrificed throughout American History. We also owe it to all of those who are currently sacrificing in what I have described as an emerging third world war. A war that pits our nation against an enemy whose worldview is irreconcilable with freedom.
The radical secularists' goal is to replace a nation where God is central with a nation where rights are accorded to individuals not by their Creator, but by those in power over them. History is filled with examples of this failed model - Nazism, fascism, communism, -- and their disastrous consequences. But here again, they are choosing to ignore history.
If we are going to be able to pledge allegiance to "one nation under God," we must vote.
If we are going to choose victory over appeasement in the emerging third world war, we must vote.
If we are going to secure our borders, we must vote.
If we are going to continue live in "the land of the free and the home of the brave," we must vote.
We owe it to those who built this great country, to our children and to our grandchildren to be citizens and to show up and vote. Because if we don't, we will have only ourselves to blame.
We are the
freest, most successful society in all of human history. But to preserve
our freedom and our God given rights, you and I need to make a commitment to
getting everyone who shares our vision of the future to vote. It is time
to reclaim our country. Will you answer the call?
A Daily newsletter from The Church Report
************************************************************
(8) Fellowship of the unashamed
From: prayermanager@liveprayer.com
To: praycf@juno.com
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 21:01:43 -0400
Subject: daily devotional (Mon.
10-2-2006)Liveprayer.com
[The following is exerpted from the Liveprayer daily devotional]
Fellowship of the unashamed
Author Unknown
"I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has
been cast. I
have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made.
I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down,
back away,
or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.
I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small
planning, smooth
knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane
talking, cheap living, and
dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions,
plaudits, or
popularity.
I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or
praised, or
rewarded.
I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by
prayer, and
labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven.
My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my
guide is
reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned
back,
deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the
presence of
the adversary.
I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool
of
popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored
up,
prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the
cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus!
I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He
comes.
And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems
recognizing me. My
colors will be clear!"
I love you and care about you so much. Please let this message encourage
you and challenge you to be a true follower
of Jesus Christ. As you read
these words over and over, let the Holy Sprit
convict you of those areas you
need to do a better job in as a follower of
our Lord. I pray that this will
be a sentinel moment in your walk with the
Lord. If you ever wanted to see
a description of what it means to be a
follower of Jesus, this is it. I can
promise you one thing, if you will work hard each
day to become a living
example of what each one of these words describe,
the world will never doubt
who you belong to! I challenge you today to let these words describe
YOUR
LIFE as a follower of Jesus Christ!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
use the following link to subscribe.
**********************************************************
(9) Symphony to God's Heart - Francis
Frangipane
Date: Thurs, Oct 12 2006 2:16pm
From: Esimteam@gmail.com
Symphony to God's Heart
Francis Frangipane www.frangipane.org
During seasons of prayer, when congregations unite for
intercession or
groups meet in homes to appeal to God, it is
important we stay united
in Spirit, supportive and passionate with
the goal of touching the
heart of God. Even though we pray differently
or come together with
different styles or burdens, our unity plays an
important dynamic in
obtaining spiritual success.
For instance, when my wife and I pray together, I like to pack all
the
meaning I can into a couple sentences. I might
pray a simple prayer,
"Lord bless and fill my kids," What I mean, is Lord touch them, forgive
them, provide for them, guide them, use them
and protect them. My
prayer is like a "zip file." It's
bigger on the inside than it is on
the outside. It appears small, but when God
opens it up, there's a lot
of meaning in my prayer.
My wife's prayers are longer than mine. She tells the Lord
everything
He needs to know about the kids, as though He were just meeting
them
for the first time. She explains what they
need in life and offers
suggestions to the Lord on how to get them into their
future. She
touches God's heart because she is so
compassionate about her children.
The main thing is, we agree with each other when we pray. We don't
judge each other. We listen and appreciate our
different approaches and
styles. Usually, when we are finished praying
together, she will
continue interceding alone. I can hear her in the
background: "Lord,
remind the boys to wash their bed sheets and
help them to get enough
sleep, and don't let them eat junk food." It's okay, as their mother,
she's consumed by her love for them.
When we get together in a group at church, the same principles
apply:
we all agree with each other. It doesn't
matter if one person prays
longer or with more detail than another. We pray
for our nation along
with other nations and their leaders. Some
pray for the governmental
leaders of nations; another might pray for gang
leaders, while someone
else will pray for business leaders. We'll
stand in repentance for the
sins of our nation, asking God to forgive our
national sins of pride,
injustice and murder (especially concerning the
unborn); we ask for
mercy concerning our greed and national
arrogance, and we ask for
forgiveness for the immoral nature of much of our
entertainment
industry. We each may have a different burden or
focus, but with
passion we agree with one another's prayer.
Jesus promised that whatever we agreed upon in prayer, it would be
done
for us by our heavenly Father (Matthew
18:19). Our agreement is as
important as our prayer. It's okay that we have
different styles: I
pace. A dear friend of mine rocks back and
forth. Another karate chops
the air. Yet, even though our styles are
different, our hearts burn
together in strong agreement.
Interestingly, the word agree as used in the Gospels was the Greek
word
sumphoneo. From it we get the English word
symphony. In other words,
God hears our prayers of agreement not so much as a tolerance of
one
another's quirks, but as a symphony of passionate voices
- each voice
as a unique instrument, yet all
participating in the same glorious
song.
Beloved, let us stay in agreement when we pray. Avoid strife at
all
costs. Whether our expression is one of weeping
or rejoicing, warring
or worship, our prayer of agreement can be
symphonic to the listening
heart of God.
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