Saturday, May 3, 2008

Day 4: Sunday, May 4: Preparing to pray beyond ourselves.

 Preparing to pray beyond ourselves.
Pour out your heart before God. Thank Him for what He has already done. Lift the burdens of others, allowing your heart to be moved to cry for the tremendous needs of your community and country.

Holy Spirit, our Comforter, help us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but You intercede for us with groans that words cannot express.

Reveal to us what You are praying for.

Teach us to become intercessors and to pray for others.

Open our eyes to see the need of the world around us.

Move and break our hearts with the things that break the heart of God.

Let us see the world through your eyes.

We are selfish by nature, but Jesus commanded us to love others as we love ourselves.

We submit to You our emotions and thoughts.

You are abounding in love and kindness.

You let the sun rise on both good and evil and let it rain on both just and unjust.

Teach us to pray without judging, to love without prejudice, to give without expecting anything back and to honor and respect every person because You value each one of them.

Fill our hearts with compassion for saints and sinners alike.

Help us to look beyond the surface to see the needs and suffering in our communities.

Help us to carry the burden of others before You in prayer and in practical ways. Let us understand the significance of standing in the gap before You, on behalf of our peoples and nations.

Amen

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Day 1: Thursday, May 1 2008: Prepare to encounter God as His people.

Day 1: Thursday, May 1 2008: Prepare to encounter God as His people.

Lord God, You created us because You are a God of love.

You purchased us with the Blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, when we were still sinners, and invited us to enter into Your presence behind the veil.

We present ourselves to You today as You today as your beloved children, to serve You in spirit and in truth.
Set our hearts ablaze with love and obedience to You.

Cleanse us from all filthiness so that we can encounter You with pure and undefiled hearts.

Teach us to tarry in Your presence and to simply wait on You.

You are the One who is enthroned in the heavens. You are God from eternity to eternity.

You are indescribable in glory and holiness. You abound in love, faithfulness and truth.

You cannot lie and will fulfill all Your promises to us.

You called us as witnesses in the Kingdom of Your Son.

Allow us to become eyewitnesses of Your work among the children of mankind in our generation.

As we gather to pray as families, churches and communities, fill us with faith that You will bring lasting transformation in our lives and throughout entire communities.

Let your Kingdom come, let your Will be done on earth today as it is in heaven.

Monday, April 28, 2008

You are precious in His sight!

わたしの目にあなたは価高く、貴く/わたしはあなたを愛し/あなたの身代わりとして人を与え/国々をあなたの魂の代わりとする。
イザヤ書 / 43章 4節

I am told that this verse in Japanese is much stronger than in English.  I will need to take their word for it!  Isaiah 43:4 says: "Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life."

The message that this verse deals with is a MOST needy piece of information for today's people.  Here in Japan, I hear about the number of people who kill themselves by falling in front of trains.  A wooded area near Mt. Fuji where people go to kill themselves.  PLEASE STOP!  

Know that He, the God who made you, LOVES you so much!  YOU are precious and honored in His sight!  Know that, my dear visitor.  Know that and tell Him of your situation.  He knows it anyway.  (He is God!)  And ask Him for help.  Tell Him of your need for love.  Your need for understanding.  Your need of relationships.  He will not only understand your cry for help, HE WILL HELP YOU!

Contact a friend who loves you.  Contact a local Church.  Ask for a Bible and read the Gospel of John, in the New Testament.  This part of the Bible will let you see who Jesus is and you will learn of His gift of His life for yours.  He paid the price to set you free.  Ask Him to forgive you for your sins.  He IS faithful and will forgive you of your sins. (1 John 1:8-9)  He will forgive you and come into your life with His promised Holy Spirit.  He will clean you up and give you His Heart.  Sounds strange?  But you know it is true.

May His Grace fill your heart today as you seek Him.