Priorities

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..." Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

In the final hours of 2011, a holiday letter communicated the death of a dear friend. Four months after the cancer diagnosis, Cherie went to be with the Lord. She was 55 years old. The news caused me to reevaluate my priorities.

Priorities help keep us focused on what is important, and everyone has them. Merriam-Webster defines "priority" as something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives. 

Jesus said the greatest commandment is  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"; and the second is "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22: 36-40). Priorities of first-century Christians included devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

What is involved in making and keeping Biblical priorities?

* Pray: Ask God for His wisdom and direction to identify three areas for improvement (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 37:5). How do these priorities align with God's Word? Do they flow from a desire to please the Lord? Commit your priorities to Him.

* Practice: How will you live out these priorities before the Lord and others? What example will you set? Depend on God's strength rather than human strength and good intentions (James 1: 22-25; Philippians 4:13).

* Progress-check: Take time to evaluate your progress. When circumstances or distractions blow you off course, repent, refocus, and recommit your way to God, staying accountable to Him (Psalm 139: 23-24).

* Praise: Thank the Lord God for your successes (Philippians 1:6; 2 Cor. 2:14).

As we begin the New Year, pray for one another and our descendants to make and keep godly priorities.

After prayerful consideration, what are your top three priorities for 2012? Let us know in the Comments section...we'd love to pray for you! May God bless you in the New Year and fill you with His joy!

Lori

Give Thanks

"Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."

1 Thess. 5:18 (The Message)

Six-week-old, Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), suffered an eye infection. After receiving treatment by an incompetent doctor, she became blind. After her father died, Fanny was raised by her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother, Eunice, introduced her to the Bible and taught her the importance of prayer. Their landlady, Mrs. Hawley, helped Fanny memorize Scripture. Fanny memorized the Pentateuch, the Gospels, the Proverbs, many of the Psalms, and much more. Although blind, she was thankful, rather than bitter. Fanny Crosby said:

"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

"If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior."

Fanny Crosby left the Church a legacy of over 8,000 hymns including "All the Way My Savior Leads Me", "I Am Thine O Lord", "Redeemed", "Rescue the Perishing", "Safe in the Arms of Jesus", "Tell Me the Story of Jesus", "Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer", "To God be the Glory", and "Blessed Assurance". Perhaps some of her hymns comforted you in times of adversity.

Even in difficult times, give thanks to God. Giving thanks demonstrates obedience to the One who is worthy to receive praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 145:3; Revelation 7:12). Thank God for His salvation, love, faithfulness, presence, comfort, peace, mercy, His Word, and goodness. Read the Psalms, meditating on them. Memorize them, speak them, sing them, and pray them! Set an example for others (Psalm 35:18; 145:4).

Let every day be a day of thanksgiving - no matter the circumstances! It is God's will for us.

Engage

"These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor..."

Zech. 8:16 (NKJV)

How do we relate to a culture that opposes Biblical values?

Daniel, a citizen of Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon, learned the language and the literature of the Babylonians (Dan. 1:4); yet, he did not compromise his values. Daniel was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Dan. 6: 4 NIV). He continued his holy habit praying three times a day, even when it was "illegal" (Dan. 6: 6-12). As a result, Daniel was thrown into a lions' den (Dan. 6: 16). God spared Daniel, and he was removed from the den (Dan. 6: 19-23).  The king acknowledged Daniel's God (Dan. 6: 25-27).

Speaking to Grace Community Church,  Jim Garlow (pastor, author, historian) exhorted the congregation to learn the language (the thinking) and the literature (the values) of the society. Unbelievers are not commanded to come to us, we are commanded to "go" (Matt. 16: 15). Pastor Garlow shared personal examples of drawing others with differing values into conversation. He speaks the truth in love, with kindness and respect, and without becoming angry. Often, those with differing values are not as hostile as we expect.

We relate to the culture by engaging, yet transcending the culture, without compromising our values. We have the moral authority to speak truth. Pastor Garlow said, "It's not my opinion; it's the Word of God. His truth is worth explaining."

Pray that the LORD will give each of us opportunities to engage the culture without compromising our values. 



"Peace, be still!"

"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling...Then He (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." Mark 4: 37, 39 (NJKV)

The LORD, Creator of the heavens and the earth, is in control of all things. He is in control of the winds and the waves. He is in control of all storms of life... yours and mine. And He is able to speak "Peace, be still!"

As I write, Hurricane Irene is unleashing its fury along the eastern coast of the United States. But even a hurricane must obey the Lord God Almighty!

Sovereign God, You are Creator and in control of all things! Have mercy God! We ask You to weaken and redirect the storm away from heavily populated areas. We praise You Lord that even the winds and the waves must obey You! Please put a hedge of protection around residents of the east coast! In the Name of Jesus, we plead, "Peace, be still!"

And may our Father God in heaven speak peace into your situation. Let it be LORD!

Prayer for Students

Heavenly Father, as another school year begins, we pray for all the students around the world. Give them a love and respect for school and their teachers. Help them to be disciplined to do their assignments. During the first days of school, lead each one to their new classes. Teach the students to be honest and honorable in their habits and communication. Guide them to make godly friends and be good role models for their classmates. Protect all who play sports and travel representing their schools. Create a desire to be pure in heart, mind, and body for this generation and for generations to come. Place in each student a desire to shape their culture to honor and glorify YOU. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

We appreciate Bobbye's grandson for his contribution to this prayer. Thank you Robby...may you grow strong in the LORD!
And thanks to our teen photographer for her contribution as well. I love your heart for the LORD "A"!!!

Prayer for School Personnel

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding"

Proverbs 2: 6 (NKJV)

As educators and other school personnel prepare to welcome their students back to school, let's remember them in prayer:

Dear LORD God in Heaven, we approach your throne of grace on behalf of all the schools around the world, trusting You for the education received in each one. Guide and protect each teacher, professor and instructor. Give them a passion for the subjects they teach. Bless them with wisdom and patience for their students. Fill them with your joy and peace. Grant them the resources needed to purchase curriculum, books, and supplies. Fill the libraries with good books and bless the librarians to select materials that teach honorable principles.

LORD, bless and protect the support staffs of each school including:

• School Boards of Education
• Principals
• Clerical staffs
• Maintenance and cleaning staffs
• Yard and landscape workers
• Food preparers and servers
• Bus drivers
• School nurses

Surround each school and university with a hedge of YOUR Protection. Send legions of Your angels to guard each facility and purify the atmosphere. Send Holy Spirit discernment where evil is present.

Our institutions of learning are a gift from YOU and we give You praise and thanksgiving for them!

Let the precepts in Your Word return to the classroom.

Thank you, LORD, for hearing our prayer. In the Name of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...Amen.


Please join your prayers to ours in the "Comments" section. I love your praying hearts!
Bobbye

Our Reponse

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly." Joel 2:15 (NIV)

Over 30,000 gathered in Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX, in response to Governor Rick Perry's call for a day of prayer and fasting for America.

The seven-hour meeting included prayers for personal and corporate repentance, repentance for idolatry, the shedding of innocent blood, and violating the commandment to love God with all our heart. We prayed for the nation and Israel. The older generation blessed the younger generation, and the younger blessed the older. We cried out to God for forgiveness and mercy, asking Him to heal our land and send revival to our nation. A team from International House of Prayer (Kansas City) led worship.

Dr. James and Shirley Dobson of Focus on the Family welcomed the attendees and she led a prayer.

After sharing his story, Luis Cataldo, director of The Response, said,  "Perhaps the shakings we're suffering are a wake-up call to the church to turn back to the God of the Bible."

The humbled Texas Governor, Rick Perry,  read Joel 2: 12-17; Isaiah 40: 28-31; and Ephesians 3: 14-21

Governor Perry prayed, "Lord, You are the source of every good thing. You are our only hope. And we stand before You today in awe of your power, and in gratitude for Your blessings; in humility for our sins.

Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government. And as a nation we have forgotten Who made us, Who protects us, Who blesses us, and for that we cry out for Your forgiveness.

We pray for our nation's leaders, Lord -- for pastors, for the generals, for governors -- that You would inspire them in these difficult times. Father, we pray for our president, that You would impart Your wisdom upon him, that You would guard his family. We pray for our military and the families who love them. Father, especially for those special operators who lost their life yesterday in defending our freedoms.

You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our response. We give it all to You. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen and amen."

Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, TX, spoke about idolatry in the church. He said, "The reason why America is in a mess, is because God's church is in a mess.  If we want to fix America, fix the church, and God can use the church to fix America."

Doug Stringer, founder of Somebody Cares America and Somebody Cares International, spoke that because of the blood of Jesus, we crossed our racial, political, and denominational barriers to lift up the name of Jesus.

In a video message, Florida Governor Rick Scott asked us to pray that our leaders will have wisdom. He also announced he and his wife are praying for their soon-to-be born first grandchild.

Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas read 2 Chron. 7: 12-15 and Matthew 5: 3-16, exhorting the worshipers to let their light shine across the country and world. He prayed asking God's forgiveness of our sins, and that we be salt and light. He asked God to heal our land by His mercy and grace, and asked forgiveness for looking for God's blessing instead of looking for Him.

To view the video archives of this historic event, held Saturday, 6 August 2011, click here.