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International Prayer Initiative

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International Prayer Initiative

We vow to faithfully pray for the concerns and requests you submit.

International Prayer Initiative is a movement of like-minded Christian disciples who believe in the power of prayer to move the heart of God & and change lives.

04/11/2024

PEACE IN ACCEPTANCE...
Read: John 14:27

Christian author Brennan Manning, borrowing a bit from well-known Christian missionary Amy Carmichael, said, "Peace lies in ACCEPTANCE of truth" (from his book Abba's Child).

Acceptance is a form of surrender. It is not apathy or resignation. It is AGREEMENT WITH TRUTH. The truth that sometimes life is hard & things don't always go my way.

You might be thinking, "Where's the peace in that?" The peace comes in knowing we have a God who SHAPES within us a peace that is NOT of this world.

Remember what Jesus said in John 14:27, "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world CANNOT give. So don't be troubled or afraid" (NLT).

Let's choose to walk in his peace today and in agreement with truth. Amen.

03/31/2024

He Is Alive...
Read: Luke 24:1-8

This is what the first followers of Jesus found on the first Easter morning. May the resurrection still amaze and delight us:

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words." (Luke 24:1-8)

The tomb is STILL empty,
HE IS ALIVE!

03/30/2024

IN THE GRAVE HE LAY...
Read: Luke 23;50-54

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

(Christ Arose, by Robert Lowry)

"Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin." (Luke 23:50-54)

I often wonder how Jesus' precious friends and followers (the ones he knew during his lifetime) felt as they saw/heard of his death (especially the ones who stayed with him & experienced it). The gospels tell us, Joseph laid his body in the tomb, performing this final loving act in service to Christ. Matthew's gospel tells us Joseph had the stone sealing the tomb rolled into position (the two Mary's were watching opposite the tomb). It all had to seem so very final.

BUT THAT WASN'T THE END...

03/28/2024

UNASSAILABLE STRONGHOLD...
Read: Psalm 46:7

So many people feel unsafe in this world (I'm often one of them). The sheer weight of life here can leave you feeling all too vulnerable. Security and safety are absolute soul necessities if we are to function in health and be at our best.

Scripture points the way. Psalm 46:7 (and verse 11 repeats the same) says, "The LORD Almighty is WITH us; the God of Jacob is our FORTRESS. This verse makes me think of the soaring cliffs along the shores of Ireland. Miles and miles of Ireland's coast is buttressed with unassailable cliffs.

The psalmist describes God in much the same way. He says God is a soaring, secure, unassailable spiritual stronghold for those who run to Him in absolute trust.

Yet, He is NOT JUST a safe place to run when life gets hard. The psalmist also reminds us that our God is WITH us (He is close beside us & draws ever nearer to us in our places of need).

LORD, may we find refuge for our souls in the unassailable security of your tender embrace. May we beat a path into your presence as we grow to trust you more and more. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

03/18/2024

CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH...
Read: Galatians 3:26

"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (NLT)

"If then you would live to Christ's glory, and be happy in his service, seek to be FILLED with the spirit of ADOPTION more and more completely, til perfect love shall cast out fear" (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening).

Has the spirit of adoption awakened deep and abiding faith in me? Do I so revel in & trust my belonging to God (in Christ) that it fills my heart with unshakable joy & peace?

Am I, as Spurgeon writes, filled with the spirit of adoption COMPLETELY? Is this now what defines my very existence? Do I live as one who knows who his Father is? Do I live with the utter soul confidence of one who was (by love and affirmed by faith) CHOSEN by God to be His very own?

Has God's perfect love (affirmed in His choosing me to be His very own) cast out ALL fear & doubt? The answer is both yes and no. I know that it is true & believe it in my heart, but the reality of it has not yet defeated the enemies of fear and doubt within my soul completely.

I still wrestle with questions of my worth & sometimes doubt whether God actually loves me like He says He loves me. And in those moments, when fear and doubt are louder, stronger, and truer than His voice of love, He tenderly reminds me that He is still with me & isn't going anywhere.

LORD, may your voice be louder, stronger, and truer than any voice alive within our hearts today. May your love win out over fear and doubt. May we be FILLED with the spirit of adoption (may we be convinced that we belong to you and that you chose us as your very own). In Jesus' Name, Amen.

03/15/2024

GRACE BORN STRENGTH...
Read: 2 Timothy 2:1

"As for you, my son (Paul was writing to Timothy), be STRONG through the grace that is ours in UNION with Christ Jesus." (Good News Translation)

Charles Spurgeon, in his devotional classic, Morning & Evening, wrote, "The influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb..." God makes the full-measure of his grace available to us in Christ (see-John 1:16).

What was Paul instructing his apprentice, Timothy, to do? He was encouraging Timothy to build his life (and his ministry too) on the strength God provides by means of his grace. This strength is God's power at work within a believer's heart making them ABLE (by faith) to live into their godly purpose.

This grace-born-strength is only available to the seeking heart in pursuit of deep union with Christ. Paul was encouraging Timothy to unite himself with Christ by communing with him personally. Paul knew Timothy would be empowered with all the strength he would need by feasting at the table of God's undeserved favor and kindness (made available to him in Christ).

LORD, may we be continually strengthened and empowered by the grace that can only be found in Your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Fill these empty pitchers and quench these thirsty lips with the full measure of Your grace and goodness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

03/09/2024

THE SHELTER OF HIS PRESENCE
Read: Psalm 36:7

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings" (Amplified Version).

God IS our safe place. We exhaust ourselves looking for safety in people and things, yet they can never provide it. Over and over, the Bible teaches us to look for and FIND our safety in God and God alone.

Safety does not preclude pain. Safety does not promise that we will avoid suffering, sorrow, and loss. Safety is a promise that God will hold us and keep us THROUGH the pain, suffering, and sorrow of life.

The psalmist knew God was the true source of soul safety. He knew he was safe with God. Though his outer world could be falling apart, his inner life was safe in the presence of God. Nothing could shake him or shatter his confidence in the goodness of God's heart.

Knowing God is GOOD and KIND paves the way for us to approach Him. If we had any question about that it would keep us from trusting Him. This is what permits us to take refuge (to be truly at rest) in the shadow of His wings (in the security of his presence).

Life offers us few (if any guarantees) and so we must look beyond the things of this life to find the safety our souls long for. We can face the hardship, pain, sorrow, and grief of life knowing there is a safe-place for our souls. God's presence is a good and reliable refuge.

We look to You, O God. You are our safe-place, the refuge for our very souls. May we find all we need in the safety of Your loving presence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

10/15/2023

VEHICLE NEEDED ALERT-

I am reaching out to my Facebook community to ask if anyone has a used SUV in moderately good condition that you may be looking to sell for a reasonable price or give away to a family in need.

I know a very sweet & godly grandmother who lives in the Kenmore neighborhood in Akron. She is currently raising one of her grandkids & soon to be raising another newborn grand baby.

She has expressed a need for reliable transportation. We prayed today believing God will provide for this need. Would He move your heart to make a difference for this family?

If you have a vehicle or some ideas to help this family please message me & lets talk.

Thank you friends & God bless you!

09/20/2023

Some musings on Prayer…

Prayer positions us to hear FROM God because it requires us to listen FOR him.
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Prayer’s purpose is simple: it connects the needy heart of man to the endlessly gracious heart of God.
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We don’t pray because of what we can get, we pray because of what we desperately need.

What are some of your thoughts on prayer?

01/25/2023

God is near to the brokenhearted (see: Psalm 34:18). Sometimes the need of our hearts and the weight of our pain and suffering can seem overwhelming. At those times, it helps to know we are surrounded by a community of people who understand and care. We care and we want to pray for you in the place of your pain and need. Message us or comment here with any prayer requests we can lift for you. We believe the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective (see: James 5:16).

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