Quick, Before It's Too Late!

What is the first thing you do when consciousness knocks on the door of your mind in the morning and you realize that the grace of God has granted you another day of living? For some of us, thoughts of what needs to be done that day come rushing in. For others, thoughts turn to who is with you or whom you want to be with you. Family house noises call you to move towards the regular morning routine. I go immediately into prayer talking to God before I engage my world.

Still others begin the day with a complaint on their lips. It’s like the old story of the man who went to a monastery for three years. He was only allowed to say two words per year. After the first year he said, “ Bed hard.” At the end of the second year he said, “Food cold.” At the end of the third year, he said, “I quit.” The leader of the monastery said, “It’s no wonder, said the Father. “All you have done is complaint since you’ve been here.”

Do a self-check today. Do you start the day complaining? How many times a day do you complain? Be honest. Complaining can be a contagious attitudinal life-style that can block the joy and peace that God can bring into our lives.

Instead of complaining about the things that are beyond your control, bring them to the Lord. I know, it’s tough, hard, you don’t feel like it, it’s troublesome, it’s not the weekend or a holiday yet, it’s cold, it’s wet, and it’s your job or responsibility. Ask God to change your attitude before all you do is whine and complain, whine and complain and whine and complain.

 Quick Lord, before it’s too late. Complaining has the capacity to kill joy and relationships. Who wants to work with or live with people who constantly complain about everything?

Try declaring a complaint fast for 24 hours. Put your daily gripes in the hands of God. Let me know in the comment section how you made out: winning or whining!

Repeat after me: Today Lord, cancel my pity party and grip sessions and then lead me to a winning attitude so I can experience joy and genuine thanksgiving!

“Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong.”
Philippians 2:12-14 NCV

Let us pray:

Lord, deliver us from attending our daily gripe sessions. Forgive us for all of the time we’ve spent on self- pity and inviting others to our pity parties. Create in us a winning attitude instead of a whining attitude. Help us today to paint a beautiful picture on the canvas of life full of vibrant ideas to improve and move forward, the Lord being our helper.

Cancel the cancerous complaining that kills the love in my heart. Help us to give you everything that is beyond our control. Sweetened our spirit today and everyday.

Now, it is with grateful hearts that we are determine to live fully today. Thank you Lord for all you has been, all you are right now and all you shall be in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Leave It and Walk Away

John 4: 43-54

“The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way.” — John 4: 50

This time was different. On this visit to Cana, Jesus had no need to dread the pinch of hometown skepticism toward His ministry. He received a warm welcome.Had the Galileans not recently witnessed His miracles, would the welcome have been the same? Would the official have sought him to heal his son?

Just like us, this official had an urgent need for Jesus. What he knew of Jesus was sufficient to draw him to ask Him to heal his son. This man took Jesus at His word and his son’s miracle would draw him and his family into relationship with Him. This official left his request with Jesus with no further beleaguering. He left it. He put it in the Lord’s hand. What about you?

Even when Jesus challenged his faith and belief, he was not deterred; he went his way in confidence that his son would be healed.

In times of prayer and fasting, we bring before God our needs for healing for others, self, relationships, habits, behaviors, prejudices—all the things that drive wedges in our connections with God and others. Just like the official, are we leaving these requests with God? Then confidently walking away knowing that God has heard us and will answer us?

Walking away is telling God that we completely trust Him.

Walking away is our act of surrender.

Walking away is walking closer to God.

Walk away. 

Walk toward the answer. God is at the end of the walkway with the answer in His Hand. Start walking…

Carlene Lenore
Nashville, Tennessee

REPEAT AFTER ME: Today, I will leave everything in the hands of God and walk towards the answer!

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Just Say Thank You!

Advent Praycation 2012

There are so many people stressed out about picking the perfect gift for someone right now. It can’t be any ole toy but THE toy of the season. It can’t be any pair of shoes but the ones that say you rank in the social pecking order. Oh no, it can’t be just any piece of bling bling the real bling that makes the heart $ing. The gift must be something special that says I love you, I care or you’re special, wonderful and I took all this time, trouble and expense just for you!

Half the people you care about want you to be a mind reader. You have to figure out what they really want without them telling you. The other half will give you a long list to pick from or want you to get the whole gift.

Amazingly, some people promise themselves that they will not get caught up in the shopping frenzy especially those who don’t shop or hate to shop. Yet they do. And you? Sure you’ll be out there getting the last minute something for someone or yourself. There is food to cook…lots of it. Final preparations to attend to….people are coming, you’ll be going… you’ll be giving and getting…won’t it be great?!

Try to remember whose birthday it is! Christmas is the time to celebrate with those around you that God reached down into the world and gave us the gift of all gifts. God knew exactly what we needed. So God did the God thing by reaching out to the world through Jesus Christ who came with salvation for all. Love invaded the world and grace came along for the ride. Hallelujah the Lord is come!

So this Christmas, if you haven’t already just accept THE  gift called Jesus. Say thank you a lot because this gift fits all sizes, races, and origins. This gift will never run out, run away or go away. Just say thank you, thank ya Lordy!

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: In everything that happens today I will give thanks to the Lord.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”
Psalm 111: 1

Thanksgiving for God’s Love

O, Lord our God, how excellent is Your name in All the Earth!
We pause at this time in the Season of Advent with over flowing grateful hearts
And say, “Thank you, Lord!”
Thank You for Your unconditional love gift of Jesus, the Christ!
Thank You for loving us before we loved ourselves;
Thank You for sending Jesus that we might live through Him.
Thank You God for showing us that true love is patient,
And thank You for teaching us the endurance of true love!
Thank you God, for loving us through our sins
And providing us a way back to You and Your love.
Thank You for Christ’s unspeakable gift of eternal life!
We are truly grateful, Lord, in Jesus Name. Amen.
1 John 4:7a, 9-10

Bishop Sarah F. Davis
16th Episcopal District
AME Church

Soul Prospering

“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Lord, we come to you today with all our plans held in abeyance. We look to you to guide us through the day your way without following our habitual practices and plans. We trust you to navigate us in the way we should go because your ways are not our ways just as your thoughts are dissimilar to ours.

Lord, be with our head and our understanding. Be with our heart so that love abounds. May our souls prosper today and always. In Jesus name, accomplish your purpose in our lives according to your timetable. Amen.

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PRAYCATION

Join us early Thursday morning for our Praycation Conference call at 6 AM CDT/7 AM EDT. Just call 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713. There will be prayer, praise, study, testimony and more. The Praycation conference call is the first Thursday in every month.

'Tis So Sweet

Dear God,

The news is not good today. Everywhere we turn there is something else to cause anxiety or something to be afraid of. It could be another flood, tornado, tsunami, nuclear reactor, high gas prices or unemployment that weighs heavy upon our hearts.

Help us to stand on your word to trust in you and lean not to thin own understanding. O Lord, we put our trust in you.

In spite of today's news reports and the constant threat of danger, we seek you knowing we will find our strength and security in you. We can move forward today and rest peacefully tonight with the wonderful assurance that you' ve got our backs! Amen and Amen.

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PRAYER QUOTE

"In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts."

Eugene Peterson

PRAYCATION CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW!

Our monthly Praycation conference call will be every first Thursday of the month. Join us for prayer, study and testimony at 6 AM CDT/7 AM EDT. Just call 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713. Share with others!

Prayer Experience

I am so grateful for "Praycation". I don't like to journal, but I decided to be obedient to this entire spiritual journey. What a blessing it has been! I have written things down and the next day the Scripture lesson brings clarification and confirmation. And so many of the prayers are what is in my heart but I did not have the words on my lips to express. Thank God and you for this spiritual journey.
Sharon

Hear My Prayer, O Lord

All together pray:

O, God, to You I call out now! Hear my cry O, Lord, for in You and You alone I find my hope and contentment. You say in Your Word that I should seek You and then I will be able to find You. Lord, please, why am I not hearing from You? What have I done? What is it I need to do? Please turn not a deaf ear to me at this time, please, Lord! Please do not remain silent now. Hear Your servant now, I humbly beg of You. God I know you not to be a respecter of persons so, please hear me, talk back Lord, I need to hear from You.

Thank You, God, for your unconditional love towards me. Thank You for all the blessings You continue to send my way even when I know I do not deserve them. Thank You God for not counting my offenses, but extending your mercy and granting forgiveness to me. Thank You, God, for knowing my heart when my actions have been so wayward. O, God, I do love You. I desire so to please You with my living. I want to be in Your will. Help me, Lord, in my daily pursuits to please You by representing you so that You are glorified.

So now, Lord, as confusion seeks to disrupt my peace, talk to me, please. Questions are arising where I once only had answers. Doubt is running under the doors of my heart and mind. I need to hear from You Lord; I need a Word from You. I am struggling with decisions that need to be made and yet I cannot move from where I am Lord, until You have spoken. Speak to me Lord!

I must wait on Your direction so as I wait on You, Lord, please increase my patience. As I wait on You, Lord, give me clarity of focus; as I wait, Lord; let me not be distracted by all these other voices. Keep me from anxiousness so that I am useful where You have placed me. Help me to rest in not having to know what is next until You reveal it. O, God, teach me Your ways; help me to KNOW when You are speaking; help me to pay attention to You as I move around Your world with Your people. Lord, I shall remain here until I hear from You. Please speak for Your servant is listening, and trusting and believing that You are hearing me, and will answer me. Let me not get weary in my well doing, but help me to stand confident in whom You have been and all You have done in my past.

I love You, Lord and I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.



Bishop Sarah F. Davis
16th Episcopal District, AME Church
Kingston, Jamaica

Chaos to Calm

Pray this prayer with me:

My soul only waits for the Lord. In silence I sit in anticipation for the one who is my rock and my salvation. Draw me out of the chaos of this world and into the calm of your intimacy. I breathe out chaos and breathe in calm; breathe out the chaotic experiences of living in an uncertain world and breathe in the calm of a peace that surpasses all understanding; breathe out chaotic personalities and breathe in the calm of a changeless Christ; breathe out ignorance and breathe in the calm of your wisdom that instructs me; breathe out my will and breathe in thy will be done.

Calm me just as you have calmed the winds and the waves.
Speak to me just as you spoke to the storm.
Touch me in places I’d rather leave untouched.
See me and know what I thought was hidden from you.
Cross my inner threshold so that we are one.
Here I am Lord your servant is listening

In Jesus Name
Amen
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Surrounded by Love

The song, "Falling in Love with Jesus," defines my everyday experience with the Lord. It truly is the best thing that ever happened to me. I pray this morning for three families whom I know who have had young loved ones murdered - two of the murders occurred in NJ (the cities of Rahway and Elizabeth respectively) and the third one occurred in Atlanta, GA.

God, we thank you for the lives of the young people; they knew you and loved you; and we know they are at peace with you. God, we ask now that you grant their families strength and courage as they grieve the tragic loss of their loved one. They may never know why their loved one was murdered, and so we ask you to grant them peace of mind. Surround these families with your love Lord, letting them know you are with them even now. God, we love you and adore you. We worship your holy name.

In Jesus name, AMEN.

Written by Deborah Stapleton

Early Will I Seek Thee

As we begin our Praycation, I offer this early morning prayer:

"O God, Thou art my God. Early will I seek thee…" Psalm 63:1

O God, I come to you in the darkness of the morning
I come just as I am starting to hear the birds singing praise to you
I come before the phone starts to ring, before messages are texted or tweeted
I come to You, O God, before the flood of emails and voicemails
I come before I remember tasks left undone from yesterday
I come before the uncertainty of tomorrow becomes fear

I come before I try to live out my own plan
I come before temptation ripens
I come to You, O God, before competing voices can influence
I come before I can mistake my thoughts for Your voice
I come before I can remember all I want from you and all I want you to do for me

I come, early in this morning, to say I love You and I thank You for loving me
Thank you for giving me this day – now, I give it back to you: live today in me live through me love through me bless through me empower through me rescue through me give joy through me O God, I come to you in the darkness of the morning, like Jesus did, to make your will my will.

In His name, AMEN

Written by  Roderick Dwayne Belin

 www.ibelin.me