Category: Pastor’s Blog

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What Prayer is Not

We spend a lot of time talking about what prayer “is”.  Today I want to talk about a few things that prayer is “not”.

Prayer is not something you give God as leftovers.  He wants to hear from you first.  Prayer should never be a “Plan B”.

Prayer is not unanswered.  Sometimes the answer is “yes”, sometimes it is “no” and sometimes it is “wait”.  Sometimes not having an answer, is the answer.  An old quote says it well…”There are times God punishes us mildly by ignoring our prayers and severely by answering them.”

Prayer is not just a 30 minute session at the altar at church.  Prayer is a way of life.  It is a constant state of mind.

Prayer is not ordinary.  Prayer should be expecting the miraculous.  It is communicating with the God of the universe, so it could never be described as “ordinary”.

Prayer is not you solving the issue for the Lord.  Your prayers should be taking a situation before God and laying it at his feet, not giving Him instructions on how He should fix it.

Prayer is not a one-way conversation.  Spend more time listening in your prayer time than talking.

Prayer is not an option.  It is a biblical mandate.

Prayer is not a means by which to escape the biblical principal of reaping and sowing.  You will reap what you sow.  Many people make bad decisions and expect to pray themselves out of the consequences.  It doesn’t quite work that way.

Prayer is not a guarantee against suffering.  Prayer may not keep you from suffering, but will certainly help you to endure it.

From Flo Shaw,  World Network of Prayer

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What Is In Your Hand?

If you have a tendency to despair over lost opportunities or if you worry about the future, ask yourself this question: “What is right in front of me?” In other words, what circumstances and relationships are currently available to you? This question can get your focus off a past regret or a scary future and back to what God can do in your life.

It’s similar to the question God asked Moses at the burning bush. Moses was troubled. Aware of his own weaknesses, he expressed fear about the Lord’s call for him to lead Israel out of bondage. So God simply asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Ex. 4:2). The Lord shifted Moses’ attention away from his anxiety about the future and suggested he notice what was right in front of him—a shepherd’s rod. God showed Moses that He could use this ordinary staff to perform miracles as a sign for unbelieving people. As Moses’ trust in God grew, so did the magnitude of miracles God worked through His servant.

Do you think about past failures too much? Do you have fearful thoughts about the future? Recall God’s question: “What is that in your hand?” What current circumstances and relationships can God use for your benefit and His glory? Entrust them—and your life—to Him.

Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus’ way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes. —Brandt

You can’t change the past,
but you’ll ruin the present by worrying about the future.

 Article by Dennis Fisher, Our Daily Bread, Copyright 2013 by RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights  reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from RBC Ministries

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What are you missing out on?

**Got Questions?  Rev. Matt Clark is teaching a 15 week lessons on the Book of Revelations at the church at 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights.  We are looking forward to a great time together studying the Word.**

**Anger Management – We just started a 12 weeks class on Thursday nights at 7:30.  Performance Objectives – Define Anger, Identify difference between anger and rage, Determine if anger is good or bad, Discuss physical responses to anger.**

**H2O New Convert Class – Remember the New Converts Class with Bro. & Sis Boone called Discipleship every Wednesday night.  Please join in if you would like to be a part or have questions.**

 

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What’s Happening at POSF

**Got Questions?  Rev. Matt Clark is teaching a 15 week lessons on the Book of Revelations at the church at 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights.  We are looking forward to a great time together studying the Word.**

**Anger Management – We just started a 12 weeks class on Thursday nights at 7:30.  Performance Objectives – Define Anger, Identify difference between anger and rage, Determine if anger is good or bad, Discuss physical responses to anger.**

 

 

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Revelation Bible Study

Got Questions?  Rev. Matt Clark is teaching a 15 week lessons on the Book of Revelations at the church at 7:00 p.m.  We are looking forward to a great time together studying the Word.

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Children’s Christmas Play

Next Sunday the Sunday School Department will present their Christmas Program at 10:00 a.m..   Support our children – they are excited and this is a special event for them!

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Bulletin – September 16, 2012

Anointed To Pray

 Although we may follow a specific prayer schedule each day, there are times when we feel an anointing – a drawing – a quickening in our spirit. We recognize His tug on our hearts. His soft,  gentle voice calls us nearer. At that moment, we are faced with a decision. We can abandon our schedule and submit our will to His, or we can give God a “rain check” and hope that He will be content to wait until it is convenient for us.

The Bible speaks of the “fullness of time,” or a season – a moment, when everything is conducive for the miraculous (Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10). We can miss Him. It is not that we cannot talk to the Lord at any time, but the “anointing” to pray may have passed. What would have been powerful and timely becomes difficult and duty. If only we would always be quick to respond! “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek” (Psalm 27:8). The Psalmist must have faced this same struggle. But he made a commitment to pray when he felt prompted by God.

Our lack of response does not thwart the plan of God. But perhaps another person may reap the harvest that God intended to place in our hands. Time and again, we stand on the recipice of the supernatural. We are on the brink of a powerful encounter with God Almighty, yet we are prone to place Him on the “back burner.” A mumbled, “I love You. Gotta run! Catch you later!” replaces a passionate, red hot interaction in the Spirit.

God longs to involve us in all that He is doing. We are invited to go beyond dangling our toes in the streams of His Spirit. He is calling us to plunge wholeheartedly into a river where there are “waters to swim in!” (Ezekiel 47:5)

“Deep calleth unto deep” (Psalm 42:7). The choice is ours today. We determine the level of power and anointing that operates in our ministries and the depth of our walk with the Lord. Paul exhorted Timothy to “stir up the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6), and “neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). We can fan the flames of the fire resident within us.

“I give myself unto prayer,” David said (Psalm 109:4). Daily the choice is ours. God’s plan and purpose will always be accomplished. The question is whether we will be a participant. Making ourselves available to God – to be quick to respond, kindles the anointing – the anointing to pray!

Written by Bonnie Peacock, Guest writer for World Network of Prayer

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2012Sep16

 
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Bulletin – September 9, 2012

Worthy Of Praise 

by Sis. Amy Hannah

One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn is to NOT measure myself against others, or to measure God’s love for me by what I have or do not have.  Even when I am sick-God is STILL a healer, Even when I lack things-He is STILL a provider, Even when I am discouraged-He is STILL a God of hope and peace. Even when I see others being blessed with the very things I have prayed for, but I still do not have-

YET will I praise Him!  God is not great because of what he does for ME-He is great because He is God. I need His help, I desire His blessings-I want His healing touch, but no matter how long I may go without all of my prayers being answered-I will STILL praise Him. Even when It seems there is nothing to bless His name for-I will bless His name. NO matter how my heart aches-I will praise Him. In spite of what He has allowed to happen in my life-that cuts to the very core of my being-no matter what I don’t understand-

I will still trust Him. When I pray for sunshine, and He sends rain-I will praise Him. When I ask for healing-yet, I remain in pain-I will trust Him.
He is STILL God, and He is GREATLY to be praised. I will bless the Lord at ALL times-His praises shall continually be in my mouth-

I will not allow my personal circumstances to dictate my Praise.
As long as I have breath-I WILL praise YOU Lord! As long as I can sing-I WILL sing your praises. Wherever you lead me-I will follow you. As long as I have breath-

I will praise you Lord.

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2012Sep9

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Bulletin – September 2, 2012

Growth Persuasion

My uncle who lived in Florida was discouraged by the lack of fruit on his grapefruit tree. Someone told him he needed to whack the trunk of the tree a few times with a board.

Apparently, there is some truth to this unusual method of encouraging growth. One gardening expert says: “At times, the flowering hormone in the tree seems to get stuck and no flowers appear. Carefully persuade the tree to flower by shocking it. Hit the trunk . . . several times, [which will cause] small bruises in the bark.” This advice may stimulate growth.

When trouble comes into our lives, we sometimes feel as if we’ve been hit broadside. We feel desperation and then we wonder, Why is this happening to me?

One possibility is that God is using a painful experience to get our attention. In Psalm 119:71, David wrote, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” And Hebrews 12:11 says that chastening “yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.”

Is God using pain in your life to lovingly persuade you to change? The season of trouble may not be easy, but if we let ourselves be trained by it, new growth will result as we become more like Him (Phil. 3:10).

We shrink from the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener knows
The deeper the cutting and paring
The richer the cluster that grows. —Anon.

Affliction for God’s people can be the pruning knife to  prepare us for greater fruitfulness.

 Article by Cindy Hess Kasper, Our Daily Bread, Copyright 2012 by RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from RBC Ministries.

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2012Sep2

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From the Pastor’s Desk

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain? -Owens

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