Yes, I’m catching up.  The last few days for me have been pretty crazy, so I’m doing several posts today so we can be get back on track.

The opening quote on day 5 is difficult to read, because I see myself in it. E.M. Bounds says “No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No Earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve decided I can DO enough to make up for my lack of prayer.  Well, the truth is, I cannot DO enough. When I don’t pray, I miss out, and so do the people in my life who depend on me to be a man chasing after the heart of God. I do not possess the necessary power to carry out my ministry to my family, my community, or you without God’s presence active in my life. I NEED HIM! And the only way I will get HIM is to pray and read His instructions and encouragements to me in His Word

The forces that oppose your walk with Christ are real and they are powerful, but not as powerful as your God. Pray for His strength, direction, and leadership today!

Remember, go to

http://www.acts413.net/21days to listen to the prayer for today.

PWG

The prayer devotion of day 4 is titled “I Love The Lord”.  The title hit me hard before I even read anything today.  Do I really love the Lord? Does my life reflect my love for God and His plan for me?

Psalm 116:1-2 says, “I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

The thought that God himself wants to know me and wants to listen to me when I pray is amazing! It is hard to picture God bending down to me like we would bend down to talk to a child.  But according to scripture, that is exactly what He does when we talk to Him.

We pray to Him for healing in our life or someone we love.  We pray for a job situation to change. We pray for a relationship to end or to take the next step. We pray for victory over a secret sin or ongoing temptation. The truth is, He wants to act in our lives, but unlike us, He wants us more than He wants the thing to come to pass.  The action for Him is easy.  We want the blessing more than the blesser.

Pray today to want the blesser more!

PWG

Listen to day 4 at

www.acts413.net/21days

“Prayer was the greatest tool Jesus used to change the lives of others.”

Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever thought about Jesus that way.  He was, after all, God in the flesh.  He could change lives with a thought, a word, or a touch.  So why did He pray?

He prayed to stay in constant communication with His Father. He prayed to receive guidance and power to impact people He met. He prayed to accomplish more in less time than any person who ever lived.

What about you? Why do you pray? To receive a blessing you want or need, or to have God act on behalf of someone you know needs help? Is the reason we pray really the reason we should pray?

God certainly acts when we ask Him to, but our time in prayer is supposed to be so much more than a list of things we need – just like the Bible is so much more than some list of do’s and don’t’s we have to try and get right every day.  Both are about a relationship with the Almighty God.

Try it today – pray without asking for a single thing. Just spend time with God, and see what He can do with your day when you put Him in the place He want to occupy in your life!

Love you all

PWG

Don’t forget to listen to the prayer for today at

www.acts413.net/21days

On Day 1 we were faced with the amazing truth that God wants to make His home IN us. Our fellowship with Him is the greatest thing we can ever experience in life, but we push Him away so we can be in charge and have our own way.  At the end of Day 1 you were asked to write down some things you want to pray for specifically. I hope you took some time and thought through your list.

On Day 2 we find ourselves thinking about what prayer really is.  It is the opportunity to engage in an intimate relationship with our Holy God. Just think about it for a second, I am allowed to speak to the very creator of the universe. Not only do I get to speak to Him, but He WANTS to speak to me and He ALWAYS listens to me.

As you think about the challenge of stopping life long enough to talk to Him, remember He is the ONLY one who can literally change your circumstances at any moment.  And, if He doesn’t think changing your circumstances is necessary, then He will change you through your circumstances.

Don’t miss the opportunity you are given today! Spend some time talking to Him and listening to Him through His Word! You will never regret it!

Love you all!

PWG

Remember, go to www.acts413.net/21days to pray with the authors

Day 1 of our 21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer has some tough questions for us to answer. Why is prayer so hard? Why has the privilege of corporate prayer become so unattractive to Christians?

We want to pray – or at least we say we do, but we don’t.  Why not? Do we really believe that prayer changes people and situations? Do we really believe that prayer opens doors and moves mountains? Do we really believe prayer guides us and opens the door for joy and peace in our lives?

Read the following passages of scripture today, and comment back to the blog so everyone can see your thoughts:

• Matthew 17:20
• 2 Chronicles 7:14
• 1 John 5:14-15
• Matthew 6:6

E.M. Bounds said it this way:

“The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men… The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men…men of prayer.”

Have you been living your Christian life apart from the only One who can do the impossible in you? Today can start a change!

go to www.acts413.net/21days to see the prayers for each day.  It is worth your time to listen to them after you read each day.

I love you guys and ladies!

PWG

Thank you all very much for a GREAT night 1 to our class! Here is what we talked about in a nutshell.

Overview of the 4 weeks

1. Intro, Sources of Conflict, Communication
2. Conflict Resolution, Finances
3. Finances – cont, Outside Relationships
4. Intimacy, Time, Social Media, wrap up

Session 1:

5 basic sources of marital conflict

1. Selfishness
2. Pride
3. Pettiness
4. Fear and insecurity
5. Satanic attack

How do these 5 things show up in our marriages? Issues caused by…

• Money
• Kids
• Sex
• Work
• In-laws
• Time commitments
• Ex’s
• Misunderstandings
• Unrealistic expectations
• Stern talk

Communication:

We do communicate differently! 70% of people surveyed by the Today Show think good communication is vital to a happy marriage.  Communication is the mortar that holds a relationship together.

Watch session 1 of Love Talk by Les and Leslie Parrott on RightNow Media.

See you next Sunday night for session 2!

PWG

Young Adults Retreat Sessions

Nailed It!

Looking back at 2018, what did I “Nail” and what did I “Fail”

Session 1

What am I working toward?

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, 2:1-11

If I’m going to work and strive for something, then I should know its value.

What is your definition of value?

Value:  The worth or importance of something 

It can be a subjective thing – it depends on the person – but God’s answers never change

What do I consider valuable?

Family      Church      Job      House

Friends     Cars        Hobbies        Possessions

Entertainment         Approval of others

Session 2:

If I accomplish what I’m working toward, what will it bring me?

1. 1. How will my life be better? Eccles. 2:11
   2. How will my relationships be better? Eccles. 3:9-12
   3. Will I have a better view of myself? Eccles. 9:1-2
   4. What will God think about me and my accomplishments? Eccles 9:10-12, 12:13-14

Happy Monday morning! I know those words don’t typically go together, but one major thing we learned in our study of Philippians was “to be content in any circumstance”.

I wanted to leave this series by reminding you about some questions we can continue to answer as we move forward.

• What are your spiritual goals? If you aren’t specifically striving for something, then you can’t possibly achieve it.
• Why do we feel that giving God our EVERYTHING is for later in life?
• I do not know everything about God or His Word, but am I living up to what I do know?
• Do you see your life as “being on loan from God”? How would that change your job/school, relationships, or spending your money?
• How can we combat anxiety and worry in our lives?
• What are some of the lies that believers buy into that rob us of our peace?
• How do I respond to the highs and lows in my life?
• What are the two ways in my life where I learn contentment?

I believe everyone who was able to come at least once during the series left with something they could use.  I pray that you will continue to study this book, and reapply the lessons it has over and over again!

Love you all! Have a great week!

WG

Waiting is something I’m not good at! 

I don’t really like to wait for anything, and waiting when I’m not expecting it leads to most of my anger issues. I get the most angry about waiting when someone else should be waiting along side me, but for some reason they get ahead of me.

No matter our personal feelings about waiting, we all have things that cause us to wait. The question isn’t WILL we wait, but HOW LONG WILL we wait.  We wait at restaurants, in traffic getting to or from a ballgame or concert, or in line to check out at the store. We wait to save enough money for the newer car or remodeling project for the house.  We wait for the treatments to work on the disease, or the divorce to be final. 

We have to wait to go to bed until everyone’s homework is done and the nightly chores are finished.

• • • Monday – trash cans to the street (gather up all trash in the house)
    • Every day – get school uniform ready, pack all bags with needed stuff for the next day, gather any snacks/drinks needed, be sure all homework is complete and any other school things are done, feed cats, feed dogs, feed pig

Waiting absolutely cannot be avoided, but how you handle the waiting is up to you.  AND Your ability to wait properly will give God an open or closed door to work in your life.  

Waiting is also a 2 way street – I always focus on how waiting affects me, but there is always another side to my waiting. 

DANNY GILREATH STORY – recent heart transplant recipient from our church.

But in our spiritual lives, waiting patiently is different. We have a choice to wait patiently on God to act in our lives and on our behalf.  Or, we can choose not to wait patiently on Him to act and just do something on our own, apart from Him.

Patience in waiting is something the Word of God talks a lot about.  Here are some examples

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Lamentations 3:25

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Isaiah 30:18

18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,

And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

James 5:7-8

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 

8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Romans 5:3-4

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

Psalm 27:13-14

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 33:20-22

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.

Psalm 37:34

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Psalm 130:5-6

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

Micah 7:7

7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

There is a purpose in waiting for God 

He always know what He will do – He is never devising a plan at the last minute – He is simply waiting for the BEST time to put His PERFECT plan into action

Philippians 3:16-20

16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

What is the enemy of patience in our world?

1. 1. 1. Our “Right Now” Society
         The belief that whatever I’m doing, need, want, desire – should be available RIGHT NOW – waiting has become a sign of weakness or being a second class citizen – more predominate in major metropolitan areas around the world
         Examples:  wifi service, cell phone service – ultra fast all the time, Amazon – same day delivery, Fast food restaurant apps, etc.

What are the symptoms of this need to have everything in the world at our fingertips?

1. 1. 1. Pornography – I don’t want to wait until I’m married or talk to my spouse about my needs or desires – I’ll just fulfill them myself
      2. Social Media – I don’t want to be bothered with calling someone to keep up with them – I’ll just look at what they post when it’s convenient for me – it is counterintuitive to what social media says it does – keep people connected
      3. Cell phone usage – we touch our phone screens an average of 3-4 thousand time a day – what do we have to show for that?  What if we touched our spouse, kids, grandkids, friends, coworkers, neighbors – or prayed (our way to touch God personally) a total of 100 times per day – how different would my world be?

How do I combat this need that is constantly before me to have and consume whatever I want RIGHT NOW? 

How can I wait…patiently for what God wants me to have and what He provides?

How to Wait…Patiently

1. 1. 1. Live To The Example
         vs. 16-17
         16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
         17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

         If I want to live more patiently, then I find someone who is accomplishing that and follow them.  I have to learn from other people’s examples.  If I want to learn how to do a math problem, I need someone to teach me and show me – same thing with our lives – we need to find people who are being successful at this life and follow them

      2. Live Like I Don’t Belong Here
         vs. 20
         20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

         If I am a visitor somewhere, I am typically much more patient when things don’t go my way.  I can eat something I don’t like very much, I can mind my manners, I can be kind and nice to someone who is getting on my nerves – because I’m not staying there.
         We do not belong here! We are not citizens of earth – we are just visiting.  

Patience is one of the fruit of the spirit. God gives it to us because it is another way that we will stand out from the rest of the world.

What are you struggling with waiting for? 

Are you waiting Patiently?

Love you all!

WG

Our summer series is titled ” The Identity Thief”.  Our goal is to focus on WHO we are in Christ and on HOW to live it daily.

I’m posting the basis for everything we’ve talked about so far as background or a reminder of where we’ve been.  The list is comprised of 3 categories:  In Christ, I’m accepted – In Christ, I’m secure – In Christ, I’m significant

Here is the list of WHO we are IN CHRIST:

IN CHRIST, I AM ACCEPTED…

• I am God’s child ~ John 1:12

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

• I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15

15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

• I have been justified and accepted by God ~ Romans 5:1

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

• I am united with the Lord, and I am one with him in spirit ~ 1 Corinthians 6:17

17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

• I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

• I am a member of Christ’s body ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

• I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to full- ness. He is the head over every power and authority.

• I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with  confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

IN CHRIST, I AM SECURE…

• I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.

• I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called accord- ing to his purpose.

• I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.

• I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

• I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• I am confident that God will complete the good work he started in me ~ Philippians 1:6

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

• I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

• I do not have the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

IN CHRIST, I AM SIGNIFICANT…

• I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of his life ~ John 15:5

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing.

• I am God’s temple ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

• I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has commit- ted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

• I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

• I am God’s workmanship, created to do works prepared in advance ~ Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

• I am an heir of God, and co-heir with Christ ~ Galatians 4:7

7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

The goal in all of this is to help us live beyond the way we see ourselves most of the time, and to live as who God intends us to be.