Praycation Is On The Way!

Once again beloved, it is time for Praycation! Since 2009, we have invited you to join us on a 31-day spiritual journey to strengthen our relationship with the Lord through prayer. It's an opportunity to grow, go deeper and leap higher in faith. Let's get ready. It all begins August 1, 2013.

Prayer Quote

"Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life. Of all the Spirirutal Disciplines prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father. Meditation introduces us to the inner life, fasting is an acocompanying means. study transforms our minds, but it is the Discipline of prayer that brings us into the deepest and highest work o the human spirit. Real Prayer is life creating and life changing."

Richard J. Foster

"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name."

Psalm 86:11

Majestic Lord, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Teach us to walk in the truth of your Word and demonstrate this truth in thought, word and deed to those we encounter today. Open to us the mysteries of your grace so that we can know the difference between what is essential and what is convenient. Grace is essential.

Create in us a clean heart and renew right intentions within us. In Jesus Name, remove from us all evil intentions so that wrong motives do not ever mingle with holy desires. Amen

 

The Lenten Journey: Yea Tho' I Walk

People all over the country and other parts of the world will be fasting and praying together during this Lenten Season. Without listing all the troubles and conflicts affecting the world today, I am sure you will agree there is an urgent need for prayer and fasting in this hour. So, your brothers and sisters are praying that you will be a part of this international prayer team that will embrace an awesome move of God so needed in the world today.

God has laid it upon our hearts to participate in a Daniel Fast in which nearly everyone can participate. Essentially, during a Daniel Fast, you will eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and beans. The Biblical basis for this fast is found in Daniel 1:8-16 and 10:1-3.

This fast has physical benefits, but be assured, our anticipated goals are spiritual. Daniel 6:3 tell us that Daniel had an “excellent spirit” that caused him to be distinguished from among his peers. It is no leap at all to believe that the excellent spirit in Daniel was related to his life of spiritual discipline through fasting and prayer. As such, like Daniel, we will pray three times a day seeking the face of God and interceding for our families, churches, communities, nations and the world. Additionally, Christian brothers and sisters have volunteered to write a devotional guide that will build us up throughout the fast. The devotions will be available at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com and www.ibelin.me.

The Lenten Fast begins this Wednesday, February 22^nd and concluding on Resurrection Sunday. Remember to pray for each other to be strengthened in anticipation what God is going to do in and through us.

Peace,

Rev. Roderick Belin

Presiding Elder, South Nashville District

Brentwood, Tennessee

The Lenten Journey: Yea Tho' I Walk begins on Wednesday with the Daniel Fast and a commitment to pray at least three times a day. Invite others to pray with you. You can come together and pray or share a prayer over the telephone, in a text or email message or just commit to remind each other to pray morning, noon and night.

Each day during Lent I will share with the prayer focus for the day. Be blessed!

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Let Us Pray:

Gracious God, we come today confessing that we have spent much of our time satisfying our own needs, hungers and desires. Forgive us as we prepare to turn down our plates and turn our faces to the wall to hear you more clearly and love you more dearly. Prepare us to take the journey that will transform our lives to more resemble the self-giving sacrificial love of our savior. In Jesus name, Amen.

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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!

Beloved, join us for Praycation. Click the subscribe icon now and new messages will com in your email inbox. Share messages in your social network or email to a friend.

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Grace Essentially

"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name."

Psalm 86:11

Majestic Lord, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Teach us to walk in the truth of your Word and demonstrate this truth in thought, word and deed to those we encounter today. Open to us the mysteries of your grace so that we can know the difference between what is essential and what is convenient. Grace is essential.

Create in us a clean heart and renew right intentions within us. In Jesus Name, remove from us all evil intentions so that wrong motives do not ever mingle with holy desires. Amen

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Repeat After Me: Grace is essential! 

Release The Power!

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! You are invited to make declarations of God’s Word over your life instead of New Year’s resolutions. In this way instead of promising yourself that you will do something, you are releasing the power of God’s Word to work in your life.

For the next seven days, I will share seven verses from the Bible. Declare the Word out loud releasing it into the atmosphere. Keep declaring God’s Word until what is spoken in the Spirit manifests itself in the natural. Sure, it sounds too strange to be true. But it is. God’s Word works and can work for you. Go to the listen section on the home page and download the Declare God’s Word introduction.

AND IT CAME TO PAST:

A little girl in our neighborhood was trying out the new bike she got for Christmas training wheels and all. As she wobbled down the sidewalk, she shouted to her father “Look at me! Look at me!” Her father promptly gave her a standing ovation.

All of us, whether we are children or adults want to be noticed. It’s human. We desire people to affirm our achievements and gifts in life. We enjoy being praised for doing good things, being listened to, getting hugs and attention. Sometimes these things happen and sometimes they don’t.

When our value and worth is not appreciated it can create stress and anxiety. One failure can end up defining who we are. A low self-esteem can even get in the way of making strong relationships or lead to not trying anything at all.

This year turn negative feedback aside with God’s Word. You are loved. You are accepted. You are God’s masterpiece to do good things.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for a time when “…all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality”. There is no time like the present.

Live forward this year. If no one encourages you, learn to encourage yourself in God’s Word.

My New Year’s Declaration

I am God’s masterpiece; I will do the good works that God has planned in advance for me to do!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

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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

You're Worth it!

Advent Praycation 2012

Rejection is one of those things that know no gender, race, religion or social economic status. It happens to practically everyone in life. Friendship offered is refused. Genuine love given and it is rejected. An attempt at kindness is met with the cold shoulder. A gift is offered and then turned away.

We do not like it when a coach, teacher, parent, friend or family member makes rejection noises that sound like this: We don’t need you; you’re not wanted; if I needed you I would have called you; you don’t measure up; you’re not good enough, strong enough, bright enough, smart enough, wise enough or cute enough to be with us, play with us or be a part of our group. Rejection happens. It is painful when it does happen to us and yet we are blinded when we do it to others. Lord, forgive us!

Mother Teresa is reported to have said that there are drugs to treat people with leprosy. The drug however does not treat one of the main problems of the disease – that of being unwanted and rejected by everyone.

The Bible reminds us in this Advent season that Jesus came unto his own and was rejected. Jesus and His mission to save people from their sins was misunderstood and rejected. He tasted the bitter waters from the well of loneliness. Yet, he did not allow his haters and intimidators to distract him from what he was called to do. The opinions of the religions establishment and the whims of the populous did not deter Jesus from doing the will of the Father. What about you?

God loved you so much that he gave us his best gift - Jesus. And do you know what? You're worth it!

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: Let wisdom flow from my mouth, compassion from my heart and understanding towards those who are misunderstood.

“He came unto his own, and own received him not.”
John 1: 11

Let us pray:

Almighty and Everlasting God, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for loving us even when we were unloving; holding us when others refused; helping us when we were turned away and accepting us without question. When the world has made rejecting noises, you whispered in our ear – Come all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!

Forgive us Lord when the rejecting noises have come out of our mouths causing pain to someone else, even those closest to us. Help us Lord to forgive those who have rejected us. Help us to forgive ourselves when we have done the same thing to others.

Teach us to fight against the temptation to wallow in the self-pity when we feel unworthy and unloved. Empower us to rise above rejection to keep doing what you have called us to do in church, the community and country. Your love does not fail!

Show us a better way to demonstrate your love in great and small ways throughout the day. Let wisdom flow from our mouths, compassion from our hearts, joy from our souls and understanding towards those who are misunderstood. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Shut-the-Door

Advent Praycation 2012

Beloved,

Taking the time or making the time for shut-the-door prayer can be a challenge in any season of your life. It can elude you in the minutia of the day or with exhaustion at the end of it. Daily distractions can disrupt the time set aside for engaging in your spiritual disciplines. Even the most determined among us can get sidetracked.

No matter how busy you are today, take the time for shut-the-door prayer. The recent tragic events at the Sandy Hook School gripped all of us in its horror. It’s hard to imagine being a parent receiving the news that your first grader was shot and killed at school. It is equally hard to imagine being the one who has to inform that parent of the news or be the first responder who had to walk into that carnage to search for the perpetrator.

Beloved, it is time for shut-the-door-prayer! Only God can get us through a season of senseless acts in a school, a mall or a movie theater! Shut-the-door prayer will strengthen your grip on your shield of faith so you can hold it high again. The enemy of our souls has not stopped shooting fiery darts but the Lord has equipped us with what can quench them.

Prayer will also help you find the courage to do what you can to protect children everywhere from Detroit to Darfur or Calcutta to Connecticut.

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: My hands are stronger to do the work before me, my heart can bare any burdens ahead and my mind is being renewed to make decisions that honor God.

"Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door."
Matthew 6: 6

Merciful God, we have shut the door against the intrusions of the day. We who are weary from the challenges and changes of this uncertain season seek rest in your eternal changelessness. Thank God that You are the same yesterday, today and forever more.

Speak now a word that dispels the clouds of doubt and fear. Speak a word that will sustain us in the mundane or monumental moments ahead. Speak a word that will strengthen our hands for the work before us, our hearts for any burdens to bare and renew our minds to make decisions that honor you.

In this shut door prayer, whisper your instructions so that we may emerge to do your will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Vashti Muphy McKenzie

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The Help

Advent Praycation 2012

Have you noticed that some of the traditional stories circulating within our cultural matrix every year strives for a happy ending when help finally arrives? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose. He helped out when the weather turned into an obstacle on Christmas Eve. The Grinch finally had a change of heart and became a help not a hinderance  in Whoville. Scrooge finally gets it in the end and helps Tiny Tim. God bless us everyone. Kris Kringle gets sent to a psychiatric hospital in Miracle on 34th Street but gets help in court, which affirms that he is genuine. George Bailey in Its A Wonderful Life thinks the world has come to an end when Clarence, an angel trying to earn wings helps out. In the Bible Mary and Joseph needed a place to stay. They didn’t have a reservation but an innkeeper helps out by finding space for them among the animals.

Everyone needs help every now and then. In these uncertain times, now and then comes along a lot. We need the kind of help that we can provide to each other. The help may be a kind word, a hand up, a few coins, food, shelter, safety, security, a hand to hold and sometimes a shoulder to cry on.
We also need the help that only comes with Divine intervention. We need God to step into the situation to either make everything all right or make us all right with everything.

Today repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: Lord, make everything all right or make me all right with everything!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help come. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1

Lord of heaven and earth, we come to you in weakness seeking your strength. Our lives are too empty without your joy. Our burdens become too heavy without your help. Our fears run away with us without your peace. Our anger becomes too destructive without your love.

Our world has become fractured, hungry and hurting. We look to you for help. Help us Lord and give us the power to help, and make our helping effective. Please make everything all right or make s all right with everything. In Jesus Name, Amen

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Trash Day

Advent Praycation 2012

When you’re the youngest in the family, usually the lowest chores are left for you to do. Taking out the trash is often on the list. It meant in our family collecting all of the trash from every receptacle. Bag it tightly and carrying it all to the hugh trash cans on the back porch. Drag those two big cans to the curb in the evening for the next day pick up! Ugg! Hated it!

As painful as it seemed at the time, it would be worse if the garbage was left in the house…rotting, stinking, an incubator for germs and a magnet for pests. It was best to get rid of it, while it was manageable at the appropriate time that to have it mess up the house.

All of us have a bit of trash that needs to be put out of our lives at appropriate times while it is manageable. If we don’t, it could stink up our lives for a long time.

Advent is the season of preparation. Let’s prepare for a new life in Christ by getting rid of some stuff that has the potential to mess up our spiritual houses.

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: Today I will take out the garbage. I will discard thoughts, attitudes, people and habits that are not compatible with an abundant, beautiful and excellent life.

“Get ready! Be Prepared!”

Ezekiel 38:7

Let us pray: 

Prepare me Lord to begin a new life. Lead me to do those things that help my heart and mind to be receptive to a fresh start.

Today, I will begin by throwing out the garbage. I will discard thoughts, attitudes, and habits that are not compatible with an abundant, beautiful and excellent life. I turn away from negative people, places and things and turn towards that which is positive and uplifting.

I let go of whatever has caused past discouragement, disappointment, or disagreement. I reach for those things that encourage, support and nourish my body, mind and spirit.

So, I stand boldly on your Word.. behold you shall do a new thing in me.
Open the eyes of my heart and my mind to be receptive to new ideas, activities and relationships.

In Jesus name, Amen
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Arrival Ready?

Advent Praycation 2012

Beloved, we are all waiting for something. We are waiting for something to happen, something to cease, something to start, something to end, somethng to get better or somehing to arrive. Advent is the season of arrival. What are you waiting for to arrive? Jesus Christ is coming, again! The personification fo God's love, joy and peace. The government shall be upon His shoulders in spite of what the politicians think. (Isaiah 6:9)

Since we know that God answers prayer, be sure that you are prepared for the arrival. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Since you have committed yourselves, your stuff and you ways...now it time to prepare for the arrival of your blessing!

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day:

Lord prepare my head, my heart and my life for your arrival and the arrival of Kingdom blessings!

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"Prepare for God's arrival. Make the road smooth and straight." Mark 1: 1-3

The Message

Let is Pray: 

Dear Lord in this season of eager anticipation of a rebirth of hope, a transformation from distress and gloom-we believe that those things that have held us down and kept us bound—will nevertheless cease and will be no more.

As your people we shall no longer walk in darkness for the Light of the World has come and His name is Jesus. We cling to your name Jesus because it reminds us that you took on human flesh for our sake. We recognize your divinity Christ because you never lost the ability to change your situation but instead chose to save our souls. We pray that through those times of despair that we remember your bright light that guided us all to you.

In this day, we believe fervently that you will again enlarge our territory, restore joy where despair sought to disable it and we will again rejoice in your name always. We shall have no fear of what could go wrong, we have no fear of what will go wrong-we simply believe that because you are Lord, you are Savior and you are God that all things are indeed working together for our good because we have been called by you and because we truly love you.

In you we seek our eternal Wonderful Counselor-the One who is able to guide us into all truth, we believe our Mighty God desires only what is good for us, we know that your mercies endure forever for you are the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace—we love, adore and anticipate all great things during this most sacred period in our lives-Jesus come, it is you we love, it is you we serve. Father receive our prayer in the name of the One we love-Jesus Christ.

Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins,

Wife, Mother, Pastor, Author, Entrepreneur

Give 'Till It Hurts

Advent Praycation 2012

Giving is a joy especially during this time of the year. Giving until it hurts or until you max out your credit cards is not a joy. Every year so many of us promise ourselves we will not overdo, overspend, or overeat. Yet, by the time the advertising messages, sales, smells of baking pies, cakes, roasting turkey and Christmas carols get through with us it is not a joy to our world.

During this Advent season prepare yourselves to give what’s priceless and never on sale.

“The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving.”

Psalm 37:21

Lord, our soon coming King, you have given us the gift of eternal life through your son Jesus Christ. Now, may the spirit of generosity overcome us and lead us to give our all to you today.

Empower us to speak your word into the lives of those around us;
Give wise counsel when asked;
Give a kind word ; 

Give  comfort to those who are suffering; 

Give of our time to causes that need our input and influence; 

Give our love without seeking reciprocity, 

and give our treasure to under gird your work.

Direct us Lord in all of our giving. Help us to give unselfishly and grow beyond self-serving lifestyles. Help us to give what money cannot buy love, acceptance, forgiveness, peace and understanding.

In Jesus name, increase our eagerness to give ourselves to you..again! Amen.

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Come Home For Christmas

AN ADVENT PRAYCATION

It seems we have created a cacophony of magical moments this time of the year. Our Christmas moments tend to be a cross between the remnants of European practices where there are lots of Tiny Tim’s whose needs are met miraculously by the transformed Ebenezer Scrooges of life and Santa Clause breaking and entering in homes every year without being arrested or incarcerated. Swirling around in this mixture are Christmas Carols promising nights that are silent and holy and invitations to the faithful who can still come to adore Him.

Family traditions are kept. Memories are being created. Our hearts long to be bathed in the warm glow of a holiday season where war and rumors of wars fade, problems disappear in the glare of holiday lights. It’s Christmas. It’s on sale right now. You can use cash, credit, debit or layaway to have the Christmas you want this year!

We want things to be the way we want things to be: everyone gets what they want; everyone eats what they want; everyone gets to be with who they want to be with; everyone is safe and secure; sane and surrounded by familial love. Right?

If we’re not careful, we will miss the coming Messiah because of the materialism of the moment.

You are cordially invited to Come Home For Christmas this year. This home is not a physical location but a spiritual reality in Christ Jesus.

Join us for Praycation Advent 2012 – Come Home for Christmas beginning Sunday, December 2, 2012. Make this moment of Scripture, prayer, reflection and response one to be enjoyed alone or shared with family and friends. Use it to invite someone to go to church with you during this season of preparation called Advent and into the New Year. It’s a great way to start the day or the study moments in your local congregation. Share it on your social network or just email it to a friend.

Come Home to Christ for Christmas…and stay!

Let us Pray:

Lord, amid the chaotic rush of this Advent moment, help me not to miss the Messiah in the materialism. In Jesus name, Amen.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie

Lord, open our eyes that we may see you working behind the scenes of our lives.

Open our hands that we may share generously the gifts you have provided.

Open our mouths to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Open our mind to receive new ideas, concepts and innovations.

Open our hearts to love our neighbor and ourselves better today than yesterday. Help us to be more open to your Word so that we will be hearers and doers of your Word. In our name, Amen

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Chaos to Calm

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 breath 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...and having heard your voice clearly, I go to stand boldly before my adversaries to speak truth to the powers that be; to bring about a future, your future that is a benefit to all, not some but all.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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Beloved, just as there is an eye in a hurricane, you can find calm in the midst of any chaos swirling around you. Breathe deeply inviting the presence of God to preside over your day. Seek calm centers within that keep you focused and on task even when everything seems confused. Create the calm wherever you go!

Blessings!

Praycation - DAY THIRTY-ONE

Sometimes the things that keep us up late at night are more than dietary issues. An emotional hurt or pain, a disappointment, an attack, grief, a loss or the memory of a cruel injustice can sweep over us ruining more than one night’s sleep.

A young child wrote her experiences of wrestling with great agonies in the midnight hour. She wrote that when she cried out to God, she heard in response “Love covers all”. She began to pray asking God to cover all of her pain with the God kind of love that has the power to cover every issue. Then she mentally dug a deep grave. She buried the offense that had wounded her heart and covered it with dirt. Her testimony was that she covered the hole with green sod and planted white roses and forget-me-nots on top and walked away.

Restful sleep found her once again and the issues that wounded her so deeply healed without a scar. God’s love completely covered her pain.

Today in prayer, allow the love of God to cover every negative person, place or thing in your life. Bury it deep. Preach the eulogy. Pronounce the benediction and walk away. God’s love will bath you in its glory and grant you the peace to grow through troubling times. As the hymn writer sings: “When nothing else would help, love lifted me.”

“Love covers all wrongs”
Proverbs 10:12

Let us pray:

Lord, I bury all of the people, places and things that have caused me grief into your love that has the power to cover all wrongs.

PRAYCATION 2012 –THE TRANSFORMED LIFE

Beloved, it is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of our 31-day journey! It has been a joy. I pray that the experience has been a blessing. More than 7,000 people have prayed during our 31 day sojourn world-wide!!

It's not over, we've only just begun. 

Weekly prayers will continue to be posted on this site beginning September 1, 2012. At other times, devotions by different authors will also be posted. Weekly audio messages will begin again on September 1st at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. Subscribe today and new messages will automatically come to your email inbox. Invite others to do the same. It's free!

The next prayer intensive will be the season of Advent, those precious days leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Please share your prayer experiences in the comment section on this site. If God has answered your prayers, please share your testimony. Also let me know if you will continue to practice your spiritual disciplines! The journey continues…

Blessings
VMM

Praycation - DAY THIRTY

Is there a sweet, sweet Spirit in your work, witness and worship? Invite the Holy Spirit into your life today. Listen for His promptings and urgings as to when it is time to pray, to be still, silent or speak in Jesus name. Ask Him to convict and comfort you as you breathe in the Spirit and are filled by the Spirit. Breathe in life. Breathe in peace. Breathe in joy. Breathe in the Spirit.

Try it now. Find a quiet place somewhere in your day. Breathe deeply. Breathe in life. Breathe out all dead things. Breathe in peace. Breathe out chaos. Breathe in joy. Breathe out pain. Breathe in love. Breathe out anger, arrogance and jealousy. Breathe in the Spirit. 

As the Spirit fills you, you will be better prepared to embrace the gifts of the Spirit. You will find that anger, arrogance and jealousy do not stand a chance against goodness, kindness, patience and self-control.

Beloved, be led by the Spirit today. There is an incredible spiritual adventure waiting for you. Surrender to the Spirit of God. Ask Him to shut every door but the right one. Open every door to the opportunity prepared for you from the beginning of the universe. Trust the Holy Spirit to stop every step that is not of God and order the steps you are to take now.  Listen for the Spirit to be the voice behind you telling you which way to go.

Live in the Spirit today. Create the opportunity in prayer to be more aware of His presence.

Sing in the Spirit today:

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev’ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (2006)

“If we live in the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or jealous of each other.”
Galatians 5: 25-26

Let us pray:

Come Holy Spirit. I surrender all that I think, say and do today to You. In Jesus name, amen.

PRAYCATION 2012 –THE TRANSFORMED LIFE

If Praycation this month has been a blessing to you, please invite others to take the journey. Our 31-day sojourn may be coming to an end but weekly prayers and audio messages will begin again on September 1, 2012 at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. Weekly prayers will continue on this site. 

If you started late, you can still catch up. Scroll down through the archives to continue your own personal praycation. If the Lord has blessed you, your family, ministry or congregation, be sure to let us know in the comment section.

What more can we do for you?

Blessings,
VMM

Praycation - TWENTY-NINE

Luggage is an important item for those who travel whether it is across the country or around the world. It carries what you hope is everything you will need for your journey.

I must confess that I have often traveled with too much luggage. I have tried to pack too much into too many small places. You never know if it will be colder or warmer than predicted. There could be extreme heat or a hurricane and just like the post office you still must deliver the mail.

There may be only one scheduled event but  when you arrive you find out that it is actually two or three events. Sigh… and of course, who doesn’t like to have choices…right?

If you are flying now you have to pay for what you packed to go with you to your destination.

Confession number two: I have had carry-on luggage envy. There are people who are so organized that they can pack one week’s worth of clothes in carry-on luggage. There is a special place in heaven for them.

Let’s face it we all have excess baggage. We’re carrying around too much stuff and we’re paying for it. It's not costing us money but it is weighing us down physically and emotionally. What we really need to do is to get down to the carry-on level.

We pack so much into our daily lives. We carry around everything in case we must deliver under adverse circumstances. We fail to prioritize – that is saying no to carrying things that are not really our responsibility or saying no to carrying around other people's problems or worries and our own stress, regrets, grief, shame, or the sins that so easily beset us.

Our hands, minds and hearts are so filled with yesterday's issues and tomorrow's concerns  that we fail to say yes to the best things that God has to offer today. We may also fail to recognize the season we’re in so we carry everything around with us for all seasons and sometimes the load gets too heavy to bear.

We keep adding more and more stuff to our luggage because we’re afraid of not having enough or not having what we need when we need it; or not having the right thing for the right occasion; or we have gotten so use to some stuff we just can’t let it go.

The most talented among us can pack all their issues into their luggage and carry them around both day and night. Stop the madness.

Put your hands up, drop the baggage and back away. It may be overwhelming to drop the luggage and carry it no more all at once. But at least strive to get to a carry-on level.

Try this. Matthew 6:34 therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Ok each day has enough for us to deal with without us carrying overweight luggage filled with the worries or troubles of yesterday, last week, last month or last year.

I had to learn how to plan and organize better for my cross-town and cross-country travels. Some things are best left at home or left out. Some things do not need to be apart the  journey.

Whew, I’m down to carry-on luggage and getting better everyday. Every 24 hours has enough for us to deal without dragging yesterday’s issues and tomorrow’s worries in a set of suitcases everywhere we go. Lighten the load and enjoy your day.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Let us pray:
Lord, help me to let go and let you handle what happens today! In Jesus name, amen.

PRAYCATION 2012 –THE TRANSFORMED LIFE

Beloved, we have enough to deal with on a daily basis. Try not to carry around with you today what already happened, what may happen or what may not happen.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 6: 34 (The Message Bible)

Someone you know needs to read this message and pray today’s Praycation simple sentence prayer. Send it to them!

Remember to do the steps of Praycation: Silence, Solitude, Submission, Service and Selah! Scroll down the archives on this site for more details. Subscribe. It's free!

Blessings,
VMM