If I Stand

The title of my post today is inspired by the lyrics from an old Rich Mullins song, 'If I Stand'.  This is one of my favorite song from one of my favorite Christian musicians.  I awakened with this song on my heart this morning.   Rich Mullins tragically died in September 1997.  Here is a you tube clip of Rich performing t'If I Stand' in one of his final concerts before he died.  The clip is only 3.20 minutes.  Please take a few moments to listen and you will be blessed.


'If I stand, let me stand on the promise, that YOU will pull me through.  And if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to YOU. "   ~ Amen and Amen, Rich.

Lord, I am lifting up America.  I stand in the gap for her.   I stand in the gap for my family and friends.  We are weary, Lord.  But we stand.  Lord help us to continue to stand.  Help us to be a city shining on a hill.  

Father God, my house will serve You.  We will stand for the TRUTH.  Help me to be a humble servant leader.  Lord I do stand on Your promise that You will pull me through.   Praying blessings on my precious family today. Lifting up Monica, Connor, and Elijah to you, Lord.  Thank You for the blessing of them in my life.  Father I lift up my church family and my pastor friends.  Guard them and protect them Lord.  

Father I pray for repentance and revival for this land.  Lord let it start with me, let it filter to my family, friends, town, state, country, and this old world..  I love you Lord.  I praise You and thank You for Your Son, Jesus.   And I pray all these things in this precious, holy name: JESUS.

Amen.

Praying For America

Friends, America needs our prayers. Every day a little more of our liberty is taken away. Some Christians would say that we need not concern ourselves with politics. I think we are called as Christians to stand up for what we believe in. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to remain silent and do nothing. I am publicly taking a stand for Jesus. I am getting involved in politics by writing and phoning my congressmen and legislators. I am making crucial issues known to everyone within my sphere of influence. And Most importantly:

I'm Praying...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I stand in the Gap for America this morning. I pray a blessing over this country. Lord give us more time to repent. Father give those who really love and serve You more opportunity to influence those around us.

Father God I feel assaulted by then enemy on every front in my life right now. Help me to stand tall amidst the oppression. Help me to see the world through Your eyes. Lord Jesus guide my steps, words, and actions.

Thank You for today my King. Thank You for another breath and another opportunity to stand up for the Truth. Thank You for my precious family. Lord I do what I do for them and You.

I love you Lord. You have lifted me up from the depths.. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Intercession

I hardly slept at all last night. I awakened pretty much every hour on the hour. Every time I woke up I felt the need to pray for a friend or family member who is hurting or under some type of stress or persecution.

Oh it seems the only kind of news we hear of these days is bad news. The Enemy is working overtime. We must draw close to God during this time of persecution. We have to spend time in the Word. We have to have quiet time with God. We must wait on the Lord....!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I stand in the gap for my friends and family this morning. I pray for Divine Spiritual healing on those who are hurting. Lord I recognize that my own 'problems' are few and insignificant compared to what my friends and many in the rest of the world are facing.

I am truly grateful for everything I have. I thank You for my precious wife and lift her up to You. Bless Monica to have a good and productive day. Bless Elijah to be good and allow his mommy to get much accomplished.

Father God, help me to be a comfort to the hurting. You have placed me here at this moment in time and surrounded me with many people in need of encouragement. Lord I pray for the hurting. Give me words of life to impart to them.

I love You Lord. I live to today to honor You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Standing in the Gap for Brother Ryan

Today I'm taking a short break from my study of Proverbs to stand in the gap for a dear friend in Christ, Brother Ryan.

Brother Ryan has a heavy heart. His family is under severe spiritual attack right now. This morning I want to affirm Ryan and pray for He and his family.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I want to thank You for Ryan and what he means to our church. Father God, I pray blessings upon he and his family. I pray that Your will be done in the lives of those he holds dear. Father I pray for healing of strained relationships. I pray for reconciliation. Lord when crisis come into our lives we know it just draws us closer to You. The family situations Ryan brought to our attention are on many hearts today.

Lord I know that many prayers have gone up to heaven for Ryan's family already. That's how this body of believer's repsonds. Father, this morning I just want to affirm Ryan and stand with our small group in prayer for Ryan's Daddy, his brother, and his brother in law regarding their needs.

I am so grateful for Ryan and the strong Christian Witness he presents for the Kingdom day in and day out. He is an inspiration to me, and many others. Thank You so much for the work Ryan does with young people. Thank You for the leadership Ryan displays within our small group bible study.

Father God, I pray that You continue to work Your good work through Ryan. I pray that Ryan be not discouraged, but that he stand on Your promise to work all things for good to those who are called to Your purpose. The fact that Ryan's prayer request has impacted others to spend time alone with You is evident that good things are already happening.

Strengthen Ryan. Comfort him. Give him courage. Grant him rest. Bless his house, oh Lord.

And Father, there were other prayer requests last night as well. I lift up Stephanie's friend who just found out she can't bear a child. We know you've handled that problem before, Lord. And I pray for Bruce and Danta's daughter and the decision they need to make regarding her medical care. Bless that dear family, Lord. And Father I'm sure there were many unspoken requests and needs in that room last night as well.

I just give all these things to You, my King. I rest in You. And I pray these things in the power of Jesus' name, Amen.

Standing In the Gap in 2007

My spiritual goals for the year are to complete several in depth bible studies. Memorize more scripture, and to Stand in the Gap more consistently this year.

I'm taking the first ninety days of the year to get to know the book of Proverbs better. I think the book of Daniel will be next after that. Beyond the Daniel study I'm not certain what will follow, but I'll let the holy spirit take care of that...

I feel called to share my thoughts, studies, and prayers in this forum but I want visitors on this site to know and understand that it is not about about me. It's about Jesus Christ. I don't want any accolades for what I have written. This is about giving Glory to God using the talents HE has blessed me with. I want this web page to point to Jesus, not Sam Chadwell.

Here's a quick question. We've all heard the phrase: 'Standing in the Gap'. What's a 'Gap'...? And what does that mean to you...?

I believe the gap is the empty space that sometimes separates people from God. It is the distance between an individual and God. If someone stands in the Gap and fills that gap then a bridge is created between that individual and God so that the individual can move closer to God.

A spiritual bridge is usually created through prayer and well wishes, but a physical bridge can also be created when we actively engage those that need encouragement and discipling.

Standing in the Gap should be a way of life for a totally committed man or woman of God.

Who can You stand in the Gap for today...?