Encouragement, Prayer, and Petition...!

Normally on Sundays my prayer routine is to pray for a church or ministry and lift up that particular pastoral staff. Today there is so much going on and so much on my heart that I have much more than that to comment on and pray about today.

First of all, regarding my commentary a day ago about trying to witness to one person a day for the next 20 years... My confession is that so far I haven't actually discussed salvation with anyone yet, but I have spoken to numerous persons about Jesus and or the bible. I'm working on trying to turn conversations 'in the right direction'. That's one of my topics of prayer this morning, is that the Lord will bless the words of my mouth to be salt and light to others.

I have a calendar that has a new bible scripture verse every day. A recent verse in the past few days was from the writings of the Apostle Paul.

...For God is not a God of disorder but of Peace....

-1 Corinthians 14:33

I've noticed a pattern in my life. You know how I complain about being busy all the time...? Well the 'busyness' seems to ebb and flow. But I think I can see that when I am especially grounded in The Word, my life is much more at peace. Take right now, for instance. I'm at the most absolute busiest time of my life right now. I am juggling the activity of two or three men at the moment. I have to awaken at 3 or 4 AM every day to get my daily routine accomplished. Yet I do have a great peace about me. Conversely, if I skip my morning prayer time a few days, or fail to pray at all throughout the day I most absolutely feel disorder in my life.

God is most definitely a God of Peace...! And I do want to step up the witnessing my faith into high gear. My goal is to witness to one person a day every day for the next 20 years. So far I'm two days behind schedule, but I can make that up easily by witnessing to a small group every now and then. That's very much a possibility. Meanwhile, I'll just keep praying for opportunities to share my faith.

Today I want to lift up a church I don't even know about. I don't know the name of the church or the name of the Pastor, but I do know that there is a church that God has in store for us join after we move to West Columbia. I haven't really thought about it much until now. But I do want to start praying regularly that God will lead us to the church that he would have us join.

And lastly, I ask all You Prayer Warriors to please pray for the sale of our house here in Houston. We love our house, but we know that God is providing a great opportunity at Columbia Lakes for a better life for our family. Certainly, it's all in God's hands. We have great faith that things will move along quickly. But please be in prayer regarding this matter. Pray that God's will be done and that all go smoothly in the sale of our house and our ultimate move to Columbia Lakes.

Dear Heavenly Father,

God You are an Awesome God and I exalt Your Name today...! You have worked so many miracles in my life. Thank You Jesus for blessing me in so many ways.

Father, I want to lift up a church this morning. I don't know which church it is or who the Pastor is, but I do know that church is waiting for us. I'm looking forward to finding that church and will be in daily prayer to that end from now on. Meanwhile I also lift up Metropolitan Baptist that has been such a blessing to us this past year.

Lord, I also pray this morning that You strengthen my witnessing skills. I want to tell others about You. I want to lead others to Salvation in You. Help me recognize opportunities that lay before me. Season my words. Soften my heart of prejudices. I want to be an ambassador for You, Jesus.

Gentle Savior, You have done so much for me and my family. I praise You Lord. My life is about glorifying You. I pray that Your will be done in regard to the sale of our house and the purchase of the new house. To sell quickly is the desire of my heart but Lord if You have something else in mind I yield to you. And I just pray for Your guidance and wisdom as Monica and I make one of the biggest decisions of our lives.

Lord I Love You. I offer this day to You. Thank You for another day. Another opportunity to impact this world for Your Kingdom.

I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Thanks and Praise Friday: Psalm 96

As You know, I take Fridays as days of thanks and praise, I try to just be thankful, content, and proclaim God's Glory rather than be in petition of Him.

I love to read the Psalms to get me in the mood of Praise and Worship. Psalm 96 Verse 1-2 is a great psalm of Praise:

Sing to the Lord a new song;

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise His name;

Proclaim His salvation day after day.

These verses are urging all living beings to communicate to the Lord. They are telling us to praise His name. What is praise...? Praise is lifting up, building up, and encouraging. Praise is giving credit where credit is due. Praise is good. Praise is positive. Praise is affirming.

The last verse tells us to proclaim His Salvation every day. Proclaim means to make an announcement, to tell people something. In this case the something is 'salvation', the Good News. 'Every Day' denotes the frequency to which we are to proclaim salvation.

Although I try to live a Godly Christan life day in and day out, and I want my very life, my actions and the words that come out of my mouth to proclaim the Kingdom, I wouldn't say that I proclaim salvation every day. Oh I do to a certain extent in my daily commentaries, but wouldn't it be cool if I literally told someone about Jesus every single day...? At least one person...? What kind of impact would that have on the Kingdom. How many lives would that impact..?

I'm going to be 40 years old next week. If I told one person about Jesus every day for the rest of my life and I lived another 40 years that would be 14, 600 people I have spoken to about Jesus. And what if those people went out and told just one person a year about salvation...? If you multiply 14,600 by 40 that's 584,000 people. I could impact over half a million people in 40 years if I told one person about Jesus a day for the rest of my life starting today.

If those half a million people all told 1 person a year about Jesus for the next 40 years how would that change the world...? And finally, what if a couple of people reading this journal decided to commit to proclaim His salvation every day for the next forty years...? The impact is staggering. I'm going to be thinking on that the rest of the day.

The Lord put me in a position to meet and interact with many people every day. It would be very easy for me to speak to one person about Jesus every day for the rest of my life.

Dear Lord,

Father I just praise You today. Lord, You are speaking to me thses days like You never have before. Thank You Lord. Thank You for blessing me and my family. We have all been touched by Your Grace and Mercy.

Father I just want to lift You up today. I do proclaim Your Glory, Lord. and I want to spread the word of Your Salvation, Your Saving Grace. I want to spread the word with my lips, not just my actions. You have done great things, Lord. You are Good. You are God. I owe everything to You, Father.

I love You Jesus, And I do give this day back to You. I live to worship You, Lord. Thank You Father for Your Salvation. Thank You for going to the cross for my sins and the sins of the world. I'll never forget that. And I will proclaim Your Good News every day for the next forty years. (or more if You still have work for me to do...!)

And I pray these things in Jesus' Name,

Amen.

The Pop Tests Of Life

For Those who Believe in God... For those who have put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ... For those who have asked Jesus into their Hearts to dwell forever... Those who call themselves Christians...

We must watch our witness very closely. The whole world is watching even when we don't know it. Especially in the area of Faith. Do we profess to have Jesus dwelling on the inside of us but then say things and act as if He is not present...? I know I am guilty of that at times.

-Especially in the area of worry. And Worry is a sin. We mustn't worry about things. Worry says that our faith is weak. Worry says 'I'm not sure if God can handle this situation.

But our God is a God who spoke this entire universe into existence. He made us and formed us out of clay. Our God breathed life into our nostrils. There is nothing our God can not do.

'Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself...' Matthew 6:14

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I feel anxious at times. (Like right now...) But I know that life is just a big test for we believers. Strengthen my faith, Lord. Help my to make wise, correct, informed decisions. I suppose I get anxious at times now because decisions I make effect more than just Monica and Myself. The lives of Connor and Elijah hang in the balance of the results of the decisions I make.

Father I am sorry for my lack of faith. I sincerely apologize to You, Dear Lord. For You always have been there, You have come through for me time and time again. I will trust in You, My King. And I recognize that Life is a trust. We are trusted to make the most of it. And I know that Life is a test. We will constantly be tested. The Enemy lurks around every corner waiting to devour the weak of faith and faint of heart.

Lord Jesus, I will trust in You. I will hold on to the promises of the bible. You are a Strong and Mighty God. You are a Fortress. You are my shelter in the wilderness. Father God I love You and I give this day to You. I pray that Your Word be on my heart and lips all day today and that others may see the You in Me.

Jehova I lift up my family to You today. I especially lift up my sweet wife who works every waking hour to help me provide a better life for our family and to mentor our children in Godliness. Thank You for the blessing of my baby Elijah and stepson Connor. God, You are an Awesome God.

I am at Your service, Lord. All day, Every Day, 24 hours a Day. And in Jesus' name I pray... Amen.

Commentary Regarding Personal Prayer Life

Way back when I started this prayer journal several years ago on AOL Journals Monica and I were members at a church inside the 610 loop in Central Houston. We joined that church in the midst of a bitter division between two factions. The church hadn't had a pastor for a year and was currently utilizing a temporary interim pastor. In spite of how terrible that sounds, it was a good experience in that we did meet some dear Christian people who we are still close to now. And my prayer life really blossomed as a response to the stimulus of the situation at that church.

Back in October, 2003 I started that blog for the men of that church. I wanted it to be a prayer ministry that would bring fractured parties closer together. My plan was to organize the men to pray for each other and the church. I wanted to establish a system where the church staff and it's members and the surrounding community were lifted up in prayer every minute of the day, 24 hours a day.

My plan never got completely off the ground as the two factions just would not come to agreement with each other. In the end, many people left the church, including Monica and myself.

Two years later the church has a new pastor and is doing better now. I still pray for that church. And I want to lift them up today. And I thank God for that turbulent time in mine and Monica's spiritual lives because during that time I really felt my calling to intercessory prayer. It was during that time when I really started praying in earnest for things other than those that effected just myself and my immediate family.

What got me thinking about all this was a radio program I heard on Christian Radio yesterday. The topic was prayer and the speaker commented that very few Christians who pray ever get past the mode of praying for themselves and their needs and the needs of their family and possibly the needs of other Christians. The speaker then asked a poignant question: How many of us pray for the souls of the lost...? I mean how many really pray for the lost every day...? How many spend concentrated time praying for the lost, unsaved souls in this world...?

For some reason that brought me back to square one thinking about my own prayer life. I feel called to pray for others. Many people from all over the country now send me prayer requests every day. And I pray for them. And I see evidences of God's Glory nearly every day in the form of answered prayer.

Where am I going with all of this...? I'm just asking everyone who reads this blog today to examine their own prayer life and ask God to show them what he would have them pray for.

Draw closer to God and he will absolutely draw closer to You. That's a promise from the bible...!

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, prayer is such a gift. Thank You for allowing us the privilege to communicate wth You in such an intimate way. Thank You for listening. Thank You for the answered prayers and thank You for the unanswered prayers, too. Because we don't always know what's right for us, But You've got everything in a perfect plan for our lives.

I know You have a plan and a will for my prayer life, Jesus. And I just ask that You reveal to me what it is You would have me pray for today and in the weeks and months to come. Lord Jesus You are such a wonderful and awesome God. I love You, Lord. I thank and praise You for my blessings. I give this day to You, Jesus. And I pray these things in Your Holy Name,

Amen.

TGIF Thank God It's Friday

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I thank You for a brand new day, for the cool temperatures, and for life. Today is another day for me to impact the world with a Godly Christian Witness. Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me dearly. I am thankful and grateful for Your Love. You loved this world so much that You gave Your only begotten Son as a sacrifice for my sins.

Lord Jesus, Your scars make it possible for me to enter the Kingdom of God. Thank You Lord. I have no petitions today, my King. Just Thanks and Praise for my Mighty God.

Father I love You and I give this day to You Lord. And I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayer for Getting back to Normal

Lord, I just thank you for sparing Houston to brunt of hurricane Rita, And I lift up the areas that were not as fortunate. Everything seems to be getting back to normal here in Houston. I want to lift up all the teachers and students who are going back to school today.

Father God, You are such a good God. It's so easy to focus on the negative and forget and take for granted our every day blessings. I am so grateful for all I have. And the privileges I enjoy living in America. I'm giving my first tennis lessons in a week and am happy to be going back to work. Thank You Lord that I have a job that I can impact people for the Kingdom. I pray for blessings on my lessons today.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for my family. I love my beautiful sweet wife and baby and stepson dearly. I pray for blessings on them, especially baby Elijah who has been feeling sick lately and Monica who has not been getting enough sleep.

Lord, I thank you for the beautiful house I live in. I am grateful to have a roof over my head. But Lord if You see fit for us to relocate then I pray for a speedy sale of this house. We would like to relocate to West Columbia but Lord we just leave all that in Your strong, capable, directing hands. We are ready to go where ever You lead us.

Lord God, I just want to get on a normal, sane routine. I want to have more time to spend with my family. I want to be a strong spiritual leader. By Your grace I will accomplish these things.

Lord I love You. I truly do give my life to You. I have your full armor on Lord. I am ready for the day. I am strong in You Christ Jesus, And I pray in Your Holy Name,

Amen.

An Extraordinary Life

I've been listening to Dr Charles Stanley's series entitled: Living the Extraordinary life.

I sure want to live an extraordinary life. And I know that in order to accomplish that I need to dive into the Word. Monica and I purchased Max Maclean's The Bible on CD and I plan to start listening to that during my daily commutes. We also plan to start having regular bible study time with Connor a couple of times a week, plus we'll have our own ongoing independent studies.

That's our plan to start living an extraordinary life. This is a call to action for the Chadwell Family. -And I have to be the leader in that regard. And extraordinary life is not going to just happen without some effort. God will transform us through the renewing of our minds. And we renew our minds by input. If we put garbage in, we'll get garbage out. If we put in The True Living Word of God, we can not help bet become renewed.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, You are wonderful. You are Powerful and Awesome, God. I reverence You, My King. I thank You for Your Saving Grace. I thank You for Your most Precious, Holy Word. I pray that the Holy Spirit is manifested in me and is evident in my life. Lord I invited You into my heart years ago and You dwelt within me. Since then I've been hot and cold for You throughout the years.

I want to be hot for You, Lord. I want a fire burning inside of me for You, Lord. Lord today I'm going to quit talking about getting closer to You. I'm just going to start doing it. I'm going to dive into Your Word and be transformed. I'm going to live an extraordinary life. I'm going to model an extraordinary life for my wife and family, for my friends and colleagues, for the world, Lord.

Father God, I love You. And today I'm going to really start showing You I love You. I pray for Your Grace, Lord. I need lots of Grace. I'm just taking one step at a time and walking in faith, Lord. Step by step with You, my King.

Lord Jesus I give this day to You. I'm on Fire for You Lord, and it feels good. Thank You Jesus for my Life. I do have such a good life. I can't always see how my difficulties will work out but I know that You promised to work all things for good to those who trust You and are called to Your purpose. I do not fear the future. I just rest my faith in You. And I pray this in Jesus' name... Amen.

Second Prayer for Renewal

I spent an hour working on this post earlier this morning and when I went to publish, some technical problem occurred and it was lost.

That is the Enemy trying to get me down. But I will not allow the Evil One to Prevail. I've put on God's Holy Armor this morning. I've been praying fervently for a renewal of my spirit since 4 AM...

This past week has been a blur. I've been busy trying to buy a house, sell a house, prepare for a hurricane, evacuate for a hurricane, clean up after a hurricane, and still maintain my normal workload. I've got news for you: That's an impossible pace to keep up. And there has been frustration and friction in my house.

I've allowed myself to get too busy again. Busyness is the one tool that Satan successfully uses against me time and time again. If You look back at my journals over the past few years that is a recurring theme.

I just don't want to waste my life away spending time on meaningless activity. I've got to quit trying to do things under my own power. I've got to fully surrender to Jesus. Not just pay lip service in the morning and then fly out the door doing things my way.

My way doesn't work. My way leads to exhaustion and incompletion. My way is totally inadequate. So why do I try to do things my way...? I can't explain it. But I don't need to. I just need to ask The Father to help me break my life-long habits. I've got to stop being so busy in the things of this world and start getting busy living the life of an authentic, committed believer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am giving it all to You. I can't solve this puzzle. I just know that I can't accomplish happiness and life satisfaction by myself. It's only through You. It's only through the Cross. Lord I just give my trouble, I give this yolk of busyness to You. I pray this morning for a renewal of my spirit. Wash me clean and let me start afresh in You, Lord.

The Enemy shall not prevail, Lord. I will not give in to the ways of this world. I am Yours, Father. I am a child of the King. I love You Lord, I just humbly seek Your will for my life and my family. You promised Lord that if we just seek You first, and Your Kingdom, then everything else will be added on. That's what I'm doing this morning. I'm seeking You. I know that I am nothing and I can accomplish nothing apart from You.

Lord lift me up, hold me up. Renew me. I ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Prayer for the Sale of Our House

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, You guide our steps. You are in charge here. We want to sell our house quickly and relocate. Time is of the essence. But Lord as much as we want to be somewhere else, We know that it is all in Your perfect plan for our lives. So, while I petition earnestly for our house to sell quickly, I also just pray for Your Will to be done in this matter.

Give us a peace about the time line in all of this. This house has been a blessing to our family. And we are so grateful, Jesus. But Lord we feel the time is to move on. Living in Columbia Lakes would make my life so much easier. I'd be on the road up to 15 hours less a week. I'd have more time to spend with my family. Our Children would grow up in a much safer environment. I can only see good things from this move, Father.

But still, Lord We will yield to Your Will. Help us to be patient and wait on You in all of this, Lord. And Father I pray for the family that will buy our house. Keep them safe and healthy. I lift them up today who ever and where ever they are.

Father God, I also want to lift up those who are involved in the sale of our house and the purchase of the house in Columbia Lakes: Ken, Sabrina, Kellie, and Michael. I pray that my family presents a Godly witness to them and touches their lives in a positive way.

Father I also pray for the track of Tropical Storm Rita. She's soon to be a Hurricane and projected to hit the Texas Coast. I pray that the hurricane take a turn and hit somewhere down south in a scarcely populated area of Mexico. I pray for minimal damage and minimal bodily injury, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You ARE the Lord of my life. I DO submit to Your will, Father. I love You Lord. And I give this day to You, my King. And I wait in eager anticipation of Your soon return.

I pray these things dear Lord in Your Son's Holy Name: Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer for the Week~Prayer For the Weak

Dear Heavenly Father,

What an Awesome God you are Lord. You spoke this world into existence. You are the Author of Life. You know all, see all, and there are no secrets from you, Lord.

I know that You are well aware of the struggles my wife and I have between raising baby Elijah and Connor, and keeping the house up and making ends meet. Father God, I'm not complaining, I'm praising. I know that You are right here in the midst of our storms. You're loving us, protecting us, and lifting us up. Thank You, Jesus.

I just pray that we are right in the center of Your will for our lives. We only want to honor You Lord. You have done great things for us. You are totally worthy of our praise and adoration.

Lord, We feel weak at times. Physically weak and more importantly, we feel spiritually weak sometimes. Help us Lord to sift through a very difficult busy schedule this next week and the next sixty days for that matter.

We just pray that Your will be done regarding the house at Columbia Lakes. We just put that situation in Your hands, Lord.

All the power and honor and glory are Yours, Lord. And I (we) love You, Father. I give this day to You, my King.

And I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thanks and Praise

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You this morning just thankful and grateful for this life You've given me. Lord Thank You and Praise You my Savior for all the opportunity You've given me. Father God, I just want to be Your hands and feet. I want to be a Rock for my Family. And You are giving me that chance.

Oh God, You are a Great and Wonderful God. How tender are Your mercies, dear Jesus. You are a Comfort to the Weary. You are a an Encourager to the sad and lonely. You are God...! I have everything I could possibly want or need. I can not, I dare not ask for anything more, Lord. You have given me the desires of my heart. -A sweet, loving wife and kids... A good job... And an opportunity to serve in Your Kingdom and impact the world with the Message of Truth and Grace and Everlasting Life.

My Jesus, My Lord and King, I bow down to You oh Most Holy Loving Father. I love You Lord. I lift up the name Jesus on High today and every day. But especially today, Lord. Fridays are all about You.

Thank God it's Friday...! I don't need anything else but You, My Redeemer...!

Lord Jesus I pray these things in Your Holy Name,

Amen.

Remembering The Twin Towers

I'm having trouble sleeping tonight. I've been thinking about the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. I remember back now at that time how I couldn't believe the evil that was in the world. That event changed the lives of America forever. It changed the world. It changed me.

I definitely drew closer to God that day. I remember thinking how all those people who died that morning had absolutely no idea their time was up when they went to work or boarded a plane that morning. I remember how I felt very vulnerable. Very fragile.

Anything could happen to us at anytime of the day, any where. We really do have to live in constant expectancy that we might see our Savior at any minute.

He could come to us.... Or we could go to Him. That's really a very sobering thought isn't it...?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I feel an unease right now. I don't like this world we live in. It's vile, and despicable. I just want to come home to You, Lord . I just want to take my family and leave. But I know we are called to be in the world, just not of it.

I have a job to do. It's to impact the world for Your Kingdom. But Father it's so discouraging when we face stress on top of stress on top of more stress. Jesus, just help me to be strong. Help me to persevere. Help me to be the man You've called me to be.

It all gets back to spending more time in Your Word. How will I become transformed if I don't know Your Word...? How will I excel if I don't dive into that book...? Lord Give me the discipline to study Your word every day. Not just listen on the radio, but a real study time.

I know the Devil has been keeping me busy. It seems nearly every minute of every day is accounted for, but my time is not spent pursuing the Kingdom. It is spent existing. Perhaps if I spent more time pursuing the Kingdom I would do more than just exist...?

Lord Jesus, Help me reach my potential in You. I love You Lord. I'm living my life for You. Everything I do is for Your Glory, Jesus. Father God, today I just remember that You are God and I am not. I lift up the families and friends of the victims of 9/11. I lift up America today. The land of the free and the home of the brave. Truly Lord, You really have shed Your Grace on Thee.

Father I worship You and Praise You, Jesus. And I just pray these things in Your Holy Name, Jesus Christ... Amen.

Prayer of Thanks

My Dear Sweet Jesus,

Oh Most Holy Lord, Master of the Universe, God of Power and Might, You are an Awesome and Wonderful God. Heaven and Earth are full of Your Glory, My King. The whole world is in Your Hands. Jesus, I bow down before You in humble adoration.

Today my Lord I just count my many blessings. And I deeply and humbly thank You Father for giving me such a tremendous life. My entire perspective has changed since becoming a daddy. And I was just thinking how You are the Ultimate Daddy, My Divine, Holy, Spiritual Father. Thank You for being my role model, Lord. My Hero...!

You know absolutely everything about me. There are no secrets. Nothing Hidden. You know how much I truly Love You, Lord. And I only want to honor You and serve You in all that I do. Oh I know I fall short many times every day, but I'm trying Lord. And You continue to heep blessings upon me that I do not deserve.

Father God, I want to thank You that Houston is in the position to be a care giver to Katrina victims instead of the other way around. That Hurricane could have just as easily devastated the Texas gulf coast. But You spared us. And now we have a chance to be Your Hands and Feet to those in need. What an Honor. What a Privilege. Help us to do all that we can do. Allow us to change lives through tender love and compassion.

Lord, for me personally there seems to be no end to blessings . You are totally blessing my career. You have seen fit to bless me with so many new tennis students this fall, I just thank You Lord, and pray that I continue to be an effective witness for you.

And Father the blessing of my family with baby Elijah is one of the biggest blessings of all. You have allowed Monica and I to bring a new life into the world. A new life that will never feel the pain and disappointment that I went through as a child. A new life that will grow up in a loving, Godly, family environment. Lord Jesus I thank You so much for the precious gift of baby Elijah.

And Lord I just thank You for my support system. I have an awesome wife and stepson. We have Monica's parents and my sis for close family love and support. I have awesome friends, colleagues, and a great community of families of those that teach tennis too.

I have a very satisfying and successful career. We live in a beautiful house. We Attend a great Church. We have opportunities to serve God and each other... All these things are from and of God. Nothing is because of what a great guy Sam Chadwell is. Truth be Told, I am absolutely nothing without You my Jesus. Not a Thing. It's all about You, Lord.

You, who willingly gave up Your life on the cross so that I might live 2000 years later and be blessed with life everlasting. Lord You spoke the universe into existence. You made this planet and all that dwells upon it. Then when it became so foul and corrupt You came down from Heaven to save it. And You will do that again. I thank You Jesus for Your soon to be Second Coming.

And that's why I like to take every Friday to just lift You up and count my blessings and just Praise you, Lord.

To God be the Glory. Now and Forever, In the Name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, Amen.

Prayer for My Family

Today I just want to lift up my family. I pray for Baby Elijah as he is 6 weeks old on Thursday. I pray for my sweet wife Monica. She works tirelessly to take care of us all. I pray for Connor my stepson. He just turned 13 and is dealing with all those things that teenagers deal with. He's at that awkward stage between being a kid and a young man. And I pray for myself. I'm just a man trying to stay in the middle of God's will for my life and my family's life.

Dear Lord,

You are an awesome God, a mighty God. You are a loving, tender Father. I praise You today, Jesus. Thank You for the blessing of my family. Thank You Lord that I don't have to go through this life alone. Lord, thank You for the blessing of being a care giver.

Father God, I just ask for strength for myself today. I ask for Courage to live the life You have called me to live in this dark world. Lord, You are my authority. I am under Your direction. Help me to be obedient in all things you have asked of me. Help me to be a good provider for my family. Help me to be a dynamic spiritual leader. Guard and protect us all from Satan's attack. The evil one will not prevail in this house. His fiery darts are blunted by Your impenetrable armor, Lord. And I clothe myself in that armor this morning, Lord.

Bless Monica today, Lord. Grant her rest. Enable Elijah to sleep for long periods today so that Monica can sleep, too. Lift up Connor today, Lord. I pray that he resist all temptation today. I pray that he develops a heart for service and that he consider the feelings of others more. Give him a heart of compassion, Lord.

Lord, I know I don't deserve these blessings. I am wretched. But You died for all of us. By Your Grace I am saved and am being transformed in Your image even at this very moment...! Thank You Lord for Your incomprehensible Love. I love You too, Lord. And I give this day to You, Father. Everything I do today is in Your name. I will give my best to You.

I pray these things in The name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen...!

Working for the Lord

Dr Stanley spoke this morning about having a servant's heart and attitude toward work and interaction with each other. He said Jesus spent his life here on earth serving right to the end.

We are called to emulate Christ's life and that should flow out of all our activities including work. We need to sincerely do our best to reverence the Lord. God's people ought to be the best workers no matter what they are doing. What ever we do we are called to give our best as if we are working for the Lord. It doesn't make any difference what one's vocation is. If we give our best in every circumstance we will not make an impression on others, we will be making a huge impact in their lives.

One of the disdasters of this age is that we act one way in church and another way away from church. We need to make every moment a church experience. Every occupation should be a ministry of some sort. Remember as Christians we are called to be in the world but not of it...!