tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80667046976485446792024-03-13T21:55:29.045-07:00Prayers For BarrettKristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-88865613107491923902012-05-09T14:04:00.003-07:002012-05-09T14:04:50.251-07:00Fasting<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I apologize for not getting this out to you last night. Hopefully it will provide some food for thought when you read it. Last week I wrote about prayer, so I thought it would be important to think about fasting as well. I am still learning more about why God calls us to fast and how important it can be in our faith walks. I have found the following information helpful to my understanding and hope that it will help you as well.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From <i>The Circle Maker </i>by Mark Batterson:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“When you fast and pray in tandem, it’s almost like a moving sidewalk that gets you to your desired destination in half the time. Fasting has a way of fast-tracking our prayers. Because fasting is harder than praying, fasting is a form of praying hard...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is more than one way to draw a prayer circle. In fact, sometimes it involves more than prayer. I believe that fasting is a form of circling. In fact, an empty stomach may be the most powerful prayer posture in Scripture.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Even Jesus said that some miracles are not possible via prayer (Matthew 17:21). Some miracles are only accessible via prayer and fasting. It takes the combination of prayer and fasting to unlock some double dead bolts.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I recently listened to a pastor preach on fasting and he stated that “it causes our prayers to intensify and we make headway where we didn’t make headway before... There has not been any significant breakthrough that I have needed from the Lord that I have not fasted for. I have not fasted without seeing God work in amazing ways.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He went on to provide a list of seven things that fasting does. In summary, fasting:</span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">helps us secure favor in situations </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">helps us discern God’s will </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">humbles our souls</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">provides protection</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">gives us power in spiritual battles</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">brings healing</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I extended the invitation to join David and me in praying and fasting for Barrett, I encouraged all of you to pray about the level of commitment you felt God laying on your hearts. I encourage you again to ask, “God, do you want me to do this? Where are the areas in my life that you want to give me a breakthrough?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Although we are fasting on Wednesdays on behalf of Barrett, God may be calling you to fast for a different or an additional breakthrough -- discernment, our families, our church, against the enemy. The Lord wants to meet us in the place where we need him to show himself powerful. I am personally praying that He would show himself powerful in a dimension that we have never seen before by healing Barrett. I open up to you in saying that our journey of prayer and fasting has been extremely difficult at times, but this is something that I believe is from God; in the words of our friend John, “you hang on and you keep on fasting and praying until you receive that from the Lord and you don’t stop!” If we want God to do what he’s never done before, we have to move in close to him.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ll leave you with this passage, Isaiah 58:8-9,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth <i>speedily</i>, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, <b><i>'Here I am'</i></b>.”</span></div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-31368711673755702202012-05-09T14:02:00.004-07:002012-05-09T14:02:33.425-07:00Prayer<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As we prepare for another Wednesday, I want to thank you once again for your commitment in prayer for Barrett and the Delmez family. For those who will be fasting, we are praying for strength and protection as you go through the day. David and I continue to be challenged by <i>The Circle Maker</i> and I wanted to share several thoughts from what we have most recently read. I hope this provides you with something to reflect on throughout the day. It emphasizes prayer and the importance of what we are doing in coming together before God and asking him to heal this child. (I’ve created 4 alliterated points for Matt’s enjoyment!)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1. <i>Purpose</i> of Prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“In the circle of successful living, prayer is the hub that holds the wheel together. Without our contact with God we are nothing. With it, we are ‘a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.’”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How humbled we should be that we are unworthy but can talk to the Lord God Almighty at any moment of any day, with any need, any praise, any fears!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><i>2. Posture</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> of Prayer:</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Physical posture is an important part of prayer. It’s like a prayer within a prayer. Posture is to prayer as tone is to communication. If words are what you say, then posture is how you say it. There is a reason that Scripture prescribes a wide variety of postures such as kneeling, falling prostrate on one’s face, the laying on of hands, and anointing someone’s head with oil. Physical postures help posture our hearts and minds...The physical posture of kneeling, coupled with a humble heart, is the most powerful position on earth. I’m not sure that the kneeling position betters my batting average in prayer, but it gets me in the right stance. All I know is this: Humility honors God, and God honors humility. Why not kneel?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I challenge you to reflect on when and how you pray - are you giving God the focus he deserves? We have recently begun to kneel together when we pray and I can promise you that it has helped to ‘posture our hearts and minds’ before God and humble ourselves before him as we pray!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3. <i>Proximity</i> of Prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is something powerful about being in proximity to the person, place, or thing you are praying for. Proximity creates intimacy. Proximity proclaims authority...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Like the promise given to Joshua, “I will give you every place where you set your foot,” it’s a way of exercising the authority God has given us as His children. (Joshua 1:3)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you have not yet had the opportunity to pray with Brett and Jessica, I challenge you to find some time before Barrett is born that you can join in fellowship and prayer with them. If you cannot meet with them on Sundays or Wednesdays, let me know and I will help facilitate a time!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4. <i>Primed </i>by Prayer:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our minds are primed by everything that is happening all the time. It’s a testament to the fact that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” It also testifies to the fact that we had better be good stewards of the things we allow to be seen and heard. Everything we see and hear is priming us in a positive or negative way. That’s one reason I believe in starting the day in God’s Word. It doesn’t just prime our minds; it also primes our hearts...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Prayer is priming. Prayer puts us in a spiritual frame of mind. Prayer helps us see and seize the God-ordained opportunities that are all around us all the time. As David writes in Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This thought is especially challenging for me as I’m not a morning person; maybe you face a similar situation. Irregardless, I challenge you to reflect on how you are using prayer to ‘prime’ your day and maintain a spiritual frame of mind throughout the day, taking advantage of the opportunities that are around us!</span></div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-36260781663362854462012-04-25T12:57:00.001-07:002012-04-25T12:58:59.114-07:00Romans 8<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear friends,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I praise God for your commitment in joining us to lift up Barrett Delmez (along with Brett and Jessica) in prayer! Thank you for your support, in whatever capacity you are able to give. It is hard to believe that Wednesday is almost upon us again, which for many of us means that we will be fasting until dinner. I wanted to provide you with a couple thoughts to reflect upon throughout the day. Most recently, I was reading through Romans 8 and wanted to share several verses.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Romans 8:5-6 "...those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires...the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Romans 8:26-27 "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Romans 8:31-32 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Romans 8:34 "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These verses challenge me and comfort me at the same time. How hard it is to live in accordance with the Spirit and yet it is not a battle we face alone, for we are promised that the Spirit will help us in our weakness. When we don't know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us. Christ <i>himself</i> is interceding for us. Be encouraged in that good news!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;">Romans 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Life Through the Spirit</span></h5>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28118" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">1</sup> Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28119" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">2</sup> because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28119a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28119a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> free from the law of sin and death. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28120" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">3</sup> For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28120b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28120b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28120c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28120c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> And so he condemned sin in the flesh, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28121" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">4</sup> in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28122" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">5</sup> Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28123" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">6</sup> The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28124" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">7</sup> The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28125" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">8</sup> Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28126" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">9</sup> You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28127" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">10</sup> But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28127d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28127d" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup> because of righteousness. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28128" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">11</sup> And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28128e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28128e" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> his Spirit who lives in you.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28129" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">12</sup> Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28130" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">13</sup> For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28131" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">14</sup> For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28132" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">15</sup> The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28132f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28132f" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</sup> And by him we cry, <i>“Abba,</i><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28132g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28132g" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote g">g</a>]</sup> Father.” <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28133" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">16</sup> The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28134" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">17</sup> Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Present Suffering and Future Glory</span></h5>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28135" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">18</sup> I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28136" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">19</sup>For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28137" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">20</sup> For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28138" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">21</sup> that<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28138h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28138h" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</sup> the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28139" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">22</sup> We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28140" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">23</sup> Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28141" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">24</sup> For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28142" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">25</sup> But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28143" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">26</sup> In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28144" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">27</sup> And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28145" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">28</sup> And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28145i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28145i" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote i">i</a>]</sup> have been called according to his purpose. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28146" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">29</sup> For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28147" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">30</sup> And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">More Than Conquerors</span></h5>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28148" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">31</sup> What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28149" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">32</sup> He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28150" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">33</sup> Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28151" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">34</sup> Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28152" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">35</sup> Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28153" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">36</sup> As it is written:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> “For your sake we face death all day long;<br /> we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28153j" title="See footnote j">j</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28153j" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote j">j</a>]</sup></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28154" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">37</sup> No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28155" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">38</sup> For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28155k" title="See footnote k">k</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28155k" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote k">k</a>]</sup> neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28156" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">39</sup>neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></div>
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</div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-49191350275533805912012-04-25T12:54:00.001-07:002012-04-25T12:59:47.558-07:00Discouragement and disappointment<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">When I felt the call to commit in prayer and fasting for Barrett, I knew that call was to be echoed among our friends and our church. I felt so passionate, so sure, in what God was personally calling me to do. There is no other way that any of us can help Barrett but to pray. Pray. Pray. I was so hopeful that others would join with us to pray for Barrett's healing; to fast as able; to step out in faith and say "we won't be silent!". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">So I wrote a letter that expressed my thoughts - how I felt God had called me, what he was calling me to, why I was seeking others to join us. Ultimately, I wanted to bring this situation - Barrett's struggling health - to the forefront and ask our friends to pray with us. I challenged them to search their own hearts for how God was calling them to action, knowing that not everybody could commit to that which was on my own heart. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I had a great vision that friend after friend would commit to join with us in praying for Barrett at the least. I was hopeful that most of our friends would also join us in fasting on Wednesdays and sharing fellowship and meals with the Delmez family. And the response was mostly silence. I was mad, frustrated, confused, saddened, hurt. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">And as I go through this, I am reminded of 2 things:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">1. The response was not complete silence. There <i>are</i> those who have committed with us to pray together daily for Barrett to be fully healed. We are few, but we are strong and we are passionate about the way God is moving in this situation. Praise the Lord for bringing us together to support our friends in need.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I reflect on Ann Voskamp's thoughts from <i>One Thousand Gifts - </i><b>What, then, is grace? If it is receiving what we do not deserve, then </b><b style="font-style: italic;">isn't it all grace</b>? Barrett's life. A commitment among friends to pray daily for his healing. Fellowship among those gathering together. Not least of all, our salvation, which is grace at its utmost - to have been given a life in Christ when we have done nothing to deserve it. Knowing God through that salvation, which allows us to boldly ask for his healing in the first place.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">2. We are not opposed when we are doing nothing worth being opposed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I heard this while listening to a sermon today:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"What difficult situation do you have in your life right now that makes you want to get focused and isolated and fearful? <b>This could be the greatest opportunity God will ever give you to preach the word.</b> And not just with your life, but also with your words."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Hebrews 4:12 - “<i><b>For the word of God is alive and active</b></i>. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit...; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">God calls us to preach the word.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And I was reminded of an important thing - "<b>the power is in the message, not in the messenger.</b> When you begin to share that message, Satan’s tactics will go from division and subtlety to frontal. </span>You start growing, sharing, living - as you press against things, you will experience frontal attack. The goal is to get you to withdraw and isolate and say 'this is for somebody else'."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Fear not - greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">What an opportunity Barrett's life has given all of us to preach the word. Let us be faithful to the message God has given each of us to preach.</span></div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-83496556730048711722012-04-19T15:02:00.003-07:002012-04-19T19:59:57.274-07:00First Wednesday fast<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though prayer can be active, especially in the act of joining together to pray, I felt called to fast as well as pray for Barrett. David and I have committed to fasting on Wednesdays until dinner, setting aside this day of the week to lift this child up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We recently finished a Daniel fast, which is a partial fast (limiting certain foods, not when we ate), so this was the first time I've fasted from food all day. And to top it off, it was my birthday; but no matter - I was committed (it seemed easy enough...). In short, my day was awful. Thankfully David encouraged me through the day and reminded me to "praise through". Translation: Know that God is always at work, even though the day is not one of your favorites. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was important for us to end this first day of fasting by serving Brett, Jessica and Braeden with dinner and spending time in fellowship. On the way to their house, David brought up the topic of spiritual warfare and shared that he felt it was no coincidence that I had had an awful day; how easy it would have been to break fast throughout the day or decide to go out to eat instead of serving our friends. And how easily God's call on our hearts would have fallen by the wayside. I'm reminded of Mark Batterson's words from <i>The Circle Maker, "</i>Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you." Let me tell you, it felt like work! At the end of the day, we remained faithful to God and His call for us in this situation. We had great conversation and shared what God was doing in our lives and this call He has placed on our hearts. We ended in prayer for their family and for Barrett.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the story does not end there; God's story has a way of going beyond our own thoughts, plans and expectations. With Jessica's permission, I'd love to share the e-mail we received from her that night:</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I want you to know that you may have very well been working one of Barrett's miracles tonight because I truly believe it was by the grace of God that Janelle happened to be over. What I did not share with Kristy earlier is that Janelle has decided over the last few years that she is a non believer and we have been praying for some time that Barrett's circumstances would not push her further in the wrong direction but be a ministry bring her back. I have even more intentionally been praying for her since Sunday and I truly believe God answered that prayer in you all tonight. I cannot even begin to thank you enough for the love and sacrifice you are willing to give for Barrett...I can say thank you for witnessing (even unknowingly) to Janelle tonight. </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Much Love and blessings! </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jessica and Brett</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is mighty to save and we praise Him for working through Barrett's little life already!</span></div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066704697648544679.post-4015772857798540662012-04-19T14:31:00.001-07:002012-04-19T14:38:05.837-07:00Trusting in God<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am reading from two books right now and interestingly enough, both of them speak of trust. Let me share several excerpts with you from each book:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- From <i>One Thousand Gifts</i>, by Ann Voskamp:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What is saving belief if it isn't the radical dare to wholly trust? Belief is a verb, something you must do...The truth is that saving belief is the very real, every day <u>action</u> of trusting. (She references James 2:19, which states "Even the demons believe" - belief alone is not enough, we are called to action.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are stress and worry evidences of a soul too lazy, too undisciplined, to keep gaze fixed on God?...Isn't joy worth the effort of trust?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the trust I lack: to know that if disaster strikes, He carries me even there...Trusting God is my most urgent need.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- From <i>The Circle Maker</i>, by Mark Batterson:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you trust that God is for you even when He doesn't give you what you asked for? Do you trust that He has reasons beyond your reason? Do you trust that His plan is better than yours?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you can trust God when the answer is no, you're likely to give Him praise when the answer is yes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>By definition, praying hard is praying when it's hard to pray. And it's the hard times that teach us to pray hard.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't know what the outcome of our prayers will be; only God knows how He will act. But no matter the outcome, I trust that God is always for us. I trust that His plan is better than mine. And I pray that His glory will be revealed throughout the entirety of this situation, drawing us closer to Him in the process.</span></div>Kristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06026725430214704886noreply@blogger.com0