Your Family

Is your fantasy that your family will be like the Waltons? An expectation that your dearest friends will be your next of kin?  Jesus didn’t have that expectation.

Look how Jesus defined his family in Mark 3:35: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants.”

He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?

We can’t control the way our family responds to us. We have to move beyond the naïve expectation that if we do good, our family will treat us right. I can’t assure you your family will ever give you the blessing you seek, but I know this- God will.

Accept God as your Father! Let God give you what your family doesn’t! 

From: Cast of Characters

D13: Hari Raya

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a Muslim holiday that is celebrated by Muslims all over the world to mark the end of their fasting month. In Malaysia, Muslims start the day by wearing new clothes and congregating in mosques early in the morning for prayers followed by visits to the graves of the departed. The young will ask for forgiveness from their elders and homes will be open to relatives and friends. Plenty of traditional Malay delicacies are served during this festive season. The celebration lasts for a month but most of it is concentrated in the first three days. Muslims also give packets of money to children when they go visiting. Overall, Hari Raya Puasa is a joyous occasion for Muslims.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God to bless our Muslim neighbours. • Pray that they will also enter into Jubilee.

D12: Action

2012 is also the Jubilee year for Malaysia. What is it during this season of that God wants to release to the church? What has He anointed us to do? It is to bring good news to the poor, to bring justice to the nation, to be a light to the gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind and to free captives and release those who sit in darkness. To be anointed means we have God’s unction and authority to do all of the above. What has God laid on your heart to do after these 40 days of fasting and praying? In what ways can we bring light to the gentiles or justice and hope to the peoples, especially for those who are sitting in dungeons of darkness? Pray for the Spirit of the Lord to move us into action. Pray, too, for Christians whom God has placed in positions of authority and influence to that they will want God’s anointing for their tasks and never rely on their human strength.

I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isa 42:6-7)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God to anoint His church into action. • Pray for His church to be the agents and channels of His blessings.

Appreciate Up!

QUESTION:
I really think The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace would be helpful in my office, but my boss isn't interested. Is there any way you suggest I try to introduce them to him?

ANSWER:
This is a common issue raised, especially after I speak to a conference. A lot of people say to me, "My boss really needs this book, but I don't know how to tactfully introduce it to him."

We have found three different approaches that have been successful. First, go to the free resources section of the website and find an appropriate article that could be used to introduce the languages of appreciation, saying something like, "I saw this article and thought you might find it interesting." This often leads to at least a further discussion and allows you to share your thoughts.

A second approach is to talk to your boss and say, "I heard about this book that shows you how to encourage your colleagues without spending any money. I don't know if you are interested, but would you mind if I tried it out with a few of the team members? Then I can tell you if it is worthwhile or not." Almost always, the supervisor agrees - since there is no cost to them.

D11: Justice

How do we pray for Justice? We need two things. Firstly, identification with those who have no recourse to justice. Secondly, we need to agonise in prayer, crying on their behalf because the poor have no voice. An authority to speak out for justice will come as we pray as it is God’s will to bring about justice for his children who cry to him day and night. Will we cry both day and night on behalf of those who need to see the vindication of God upon their land?

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (Luke 18:7)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the church to identify with those who are suffering and who are marginalised. • Pray for the church to cry for justice. • Pray for injustice to be removed from the land.

Worth Saving

No one believed in people more than Jesus did. He saw something in Peter worth developing, in the adulterous woman worth forgiving, and in John worth harnessing.

He saw something in the thief on the cross, and what he saw was worth saving. And in the life of a wild-eyed, bloodthirsty extremist, He saw the apostle of grace.  He believed in Saul.

Don’t give up on your Saul. When others write him off, give him another chance. Stay strong.  Call him brother.  Call her sister. It’s too soon to throw in the towel. Talk to your Saul about Jesus, and pray.

God is at work behind the scenes. And remember this:  God never sends you where he hasn’t already been.  By the time you reach your Saul, who knows what you’ll find.

God used Saul, who became Paul, to touch the world.

Has God given you a Saul?

From: Cast of Characters

D10: Faith

Unbelief is a hindrance to prayer. Jesus calls unbelief a perversity. When there is unbelief nothing can happen. Many of us may be discouraged because we may be facing personal challenges and unanswered prayers. Prayer always challenges our faith, yet without prayer, faith cannot be built! Jesus told his disciples that the only way the demon would come out is by prayer and fasting. It is only when we keep on praying that our faith grows. And our faith is in the Lord. It is not our prayer that will move the mountain but the God who called us to pray who will do it. If this is so then nothing is impossible! Will we keep on believing even in the face of these personal challenges? Will we allow God to give us a personal breakthrough so that we have faith to see a national breakthrough?

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matt 17:20)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the Lord to forgive us of our unbelief. • Pray for the church to be tenacious in prayer and faith.

Warning! Beware of ‘Christian’ Con-Artists

A big percentage of ministry funds from the U.S. go down the drain because of corruption. Please use discernment when you give.

They called K.A. Paul “the Billy Graham of India.” During his heyday in the 1990s, some Christian leaders in the United States gave big donations to the evangelist, assuming he was using the money to feed thousands of orphans and widows.

As it turned out, most of the funds Paul raised were used to buy a huge 747 outfitted with a second-floor cabin that contained his own bed, complete with red and gold lamé bedspread. Paul flew the oversized aircraft to Third World nations where he grabbed as much publicity as possible by staging photo ops with politicians. He tried to convince them that his Houston-based organization, Gospel to the Unreached Millions, was alleviating world poverty.

“Missions work can be a deeply fulfilling experience when you work with the right people. Ask the Lord to connect you with leaders overseas who have humility, compassion and integrity, and trust Him to help you avoid religious traitors.”

In actuality, Paul was stealing from Christians to feed his monstrous ego.

When I visited India last week, I learned that Paul was arrested in May and is currently in jail in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have charged that he hired a man to kill his own brother because the two were having a dispute over ministry properties. Now, this man who claimed to be a counselor to presidents and prime ministers has been placed in a mental hospital while he awaits trial.

To Know the Heart of the Pilot

Three passengers share a row of seats in an airplane. As the plane is taxiing for takeoff, their conversation turns to the topic of the airplane pilot.

Stunningly, passenger “A” doesn’t believe one exists. “No one flies the plane. We are guided by a computer system in the terminal. This plane is an occupied drone.  Why should I believe otherwise? The cockpit door is closed. Who can know? There is no pilot.”

Passenger “B” disagrees. “Oh, there is a pilot. Someone sits at the controls of the plane. But, once we take off, he takes a nap. He gets the plane in the air and then goes to sleep.”

The third passenger is shocked by what she hears. “You don’t know what you are talking about. First, there is a pilot. Second, the pilot is alert, competent and kind. I know; he is my husband. He is seasoned and sensitive and has every intention of a successful flight. We are in good hands.”

D9: Obedience

Spiritual authority comes from God Himself. But it does not come automatically. We gain spiritual authority when we wait, trust and obey God. Like Elijah, we too need to go through a process of trusting and obedience to gain spiritual authority. Why did God send Elijah to the brook that would dry up? Why not send him straight to the widow? Yet, these small steps of faith and obedience was God’s way of training him to move from one level of power to another. First, he faced the drought. Then, he had to face death. (1 Kings 17 : 17-21) As his faith in God grew so did his spiritual authority. When Elijah’s time came, he was ready to face the devil! (1 Kings 18) If we want to move in spiritual authority, we must learn to trust and obey Him even when we don’t understand. Will we continue to walk in obedience even when we don’t see the answers to prayers that we have prayed for?

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the church to walk in faith and obedience. • Pray for the church to be empowered with authority.

Always Praying

Early Christians were urged by the apostle Paul to “pray without ceasing.” In Romans 12:12, Paul said: “always be prayerful. And in Ephesians 6:18, to “pray at all times and on every occasion.”

Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, but it needn’t be!

As you stand in line to register your car, think, “Thank you, Lord, for being here.”  In the grocery store as you shop. As you load the dishwasher, worship your Maker.

Brother Lawrence was a well-known saint who called himself the “lord of pots and pans.”  He wrote:  “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”

Though a rookie in the League of Unceasing Prayer, I sure enjoy the result! I think you will too.

From: Come Thirsty

D8: Token or Tarrying Prayers

Token prayers are prayers where we set the time limit to pray. We even set the agenda and tell God what we want to see rather than wait upon Him to reveal what He is doing. Then we expect God to perform whatever we have prayed for. It is a man-centred form of intercession. In Luke 24:49 the Lord asks us to tarry until there we are clothed with power from on high. Nothing happens when there is no power from on high. The secret to powerful and effective prayer is tarrying with God in prayer until…. . This is what we call tarrying prayers. In tarrying prayers, God sets the time needed to wait upon Him. We do not know how long it will take but if we tarry, God will show His agenda and prepare us for what is about to come. Then at His set time we will experience a great influx of His power and authority and will have the ability to speak to mountains to be cast into the sea because we have received the authority to do so.

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray that the church will rediscover the discipline of tarrying prayers. • Pray for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit as His church tarries in prayer.

Acknowledge His Presence

Do you desire power for your life?     It’ll come as Romans 12:18 instructs:  “As you do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.”

It’ll also come as you pray!

For ten days Jesus’ disciples prayed.  Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls.

We’re prone to pray for a few minutes and then preach for ten days! Not the apostles.  They lingered in Jesus’ presence.  They never left the place of prayer.

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in one place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of it less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God.

Acknowledge His presence everywhere you go!

From: Come Thirsty

Every Day- Closer to Home

Too seldom do I hear thunder and think “Is that God?”

I’ve been known to let a day pass, even two days, without a glance to the eastern sky. Let’s do better!

Colossians 3:2 reminds us to “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.”

Blessings and burdens. Both can alarm-clock us out of slumber. Gifts stir homeward longings. So do struggles. Every homeless day carries us closer to the day our Father will come.

The Bible tells us God will wipe away all tears, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain.

All of that gone forever. Write checks of hope on this promise! With Paul in Romans 8:23, we “wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children.”

Every day—closer to home!

From: Come Thirsty

D7: Elijah

Elijah was a man just like us yet when he prayed the heavens opened and the earth yielded its fruits! Heaven responded to his cries, evil was driven away and righteousness was restored. He was powerful and effective because his prayer carried authority! How can we learn to pray with such authority? The first step Elijah took was to pray for his nation even though he was just a man. He never gave up despite of the condition of his nation. He kept on praying for his nation. Let us give ourselves no rest to pray for our nation. Even when the 40-Day Fast & Pray ends, let us continue to pray. Effective prayer requires us to get rid of our unwilling and apathetic spirit. May we repent of this and like Elijah, rise up take hold of the situation and pray! May we seek a total change in our attitude towards prayer and the nation.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:16-18)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the Lord to remove the spirit of slumber and apathy from the church. • Pray for the church to be unceasing in prayer for the nation.

Every Day- Closer to Home

Too seldom do I hear thunder and think “Is that God?”

I’ve been known to let a day pass, even two days, without a glance to the eastern sky. Let’s do better!

Colossians 3:2 reminds us to “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.”

Blessings and burdens. Both can alarm-clock us out of slumber. Gifts stir homeward longings. So do struggles. Every homeless day carries us closer to the day our Father will come.

The Bible tells us God will wipe away all tears, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain.

All of that gone forever. Write checks of hope on this promise! With Paul in Romans 8:23, we “wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children.”

Every day—closer to home!

From: Come Thirsty

D6: The Acceptable Year of the Lord

The Year of Jubilee is also equated with the Acceptable Year of the Lord. When Jesus began his ministry, he read the scriptures from Isaiah 61:1-2. There he declared that the Acceptable Year of the Lord had arrived. Then He went about healing the sick, making the lame walk, the blind to see, setting the oppressed free and offering God’s salvation and forgiveness to all who repented and believed. It was a period of great favour and grace. And that is what we desire for God to pour out throughout our nation during her Jubilee. May our nation experience His Jubilee and receive His salvation.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God’s favour to be upon the land. • Pray for a mighty outpouring of His Holy Spirit. • Pray for the manifestation of His power to set men and women free.

Sunday Sermon - 12-August-2012 - Ps. Mike Constantine

Speaker: Pastor Mike Constantine
Itinerant Preacher

http://www.mediafire.com/?319l26ush2j3646

D5: Rest

In the Year of Jubilee, God commands all work to cease. There is to be no sowing or reaping. No work is to be done. People are to rest in the Lord. And the Lord promised to bless the land so that all human needs would be provided. In the last couple of years, we have seen an increase of unrest and frustrations globally and in our nation. On the local front, the political scenario is becoming more and more dicey and dangerous. Irresponsible individuals recklessly use racial and religious issues to incite fear and hatred. All these have created a sense of uncertainty and tension. Let us pray that in our Year of Jubilee, we will find rest in God. Let us pray for the restoration of stability, peace and harmony in the nation.

The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. (Lev 25:11-12)

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for all divisions to be healed. • Pray for all strive, instigation and hatred to cease. • Pray for peace, harmony and goodwill to be restored in land.

Your Supervisor Really Isn't the One Who Wants to Support You

Back in the early stages of developing our materials for The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace we were focused on managers and supervisory relationships, to the point that our initial "working title" of our inventory was the Managing by Appreciation Inventory (as opposed to the Motivating By Appreciation Inventory). But as we talked to friends, colleagues and clients in the world of work, the feedback they gave to us led us to conclude that focusing on managers and managerial-based relationships was too narrow - partly because many leaders and supervisors do not view themselves as managers (and thus, don't identify with the term.) Additionally, the phrase "Managing By Appreciation" felt controlling or manipulative to some, whereas motivating by appreciation had a less pejorative feel to it.

So we have proceeded to use the Motivating By Appreciation Inventory and model as we have worked with businesses, organizations, leaders and teams across the country. Our work has been well received and is growing in scope and impact (for example, medical practices, large corporations, government agencies, public schools, universities, manufacturing firms, insurance agencies, the military.)

But we also have been getting some interesting feedback as we listen to those with whom we work. One repeated message we are hearing is:

Supervisors are not necessarily the individuals most concerned about supporting and encouraging those with whom they work.