God

Encouragement and Prayer: Give Thanks With Music! (11/22/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Give Thanks With Music! (11/22/22)

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This is the audio from the November 22, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on overcoming ungratefulness by growing in thankfulness.  Our level of thankfulness will say a lot to the people around us who need to know of the hope that is found in Jesus.  We all go through struggles that test our faith and we may endure things that no one would be thankful for, but it can be in those times that finding ways to give thanks anyway can speak volumes to others.

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of thankfulness. Pray that you would learn to express your thanks to God through the songs you sing, whether sung privately or publicly.  Pray that God’s name would be lifted up through the music you listen to as well as through the music you share with others in various ways.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Give Thanks Through Sacrificial Offerings! (11/21/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Give Thanks Through Sacrificial Offerings! (11/21/22)

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This is the audio from the November 21, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on overcoming ungratefulness by growing in thankfulness.  Our level of thankfulness will say a lot to the people around us who need to know of the hope that is found in Jesus.  We all go through struggles that test our faith and we may endure things that no one would be thankful for, but it can be in those times that finding ways to give thanks anyway can speak volumes to others.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of thankfulness.  Pray that you would always look for reasons to give thanks and that you would learn to give thanks even when the reasons seem hidden.  Pray that your faith would grow as you daily practice an attitude of gratitude in your relationships with one another and with God.  Pray that you would find ways to express your thanks to those who need to hear it.

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.”
Psalm 50:14 (NIV)

Pray that the offering of yourself and your possessions to God would be done with a thankful heart.  Pray that your promises to God would be fulfilled as you give sacrificially.  Pray about how your giving reflects both your thankfulness and your promises to God.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Loving the Ungrateful: LIFT Them! (Sermon Audio)
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Loving the Ungrateful: LIFT Them! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 20, 2022 sermon, “Loving the Ungrateful: LIFT Them!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Luke 15:25-32

As we continue our “Loved By Jesus, Love Like Jesus” series, we will consider a few people who encountered Jesus and experienced His love in the midst of their ungratefulness.  Then we’ll dive into the ending of the story Jesus told about the prodigal son and look at some lessons from Jesus of how that father loved the ungrateful.

Nine of ten lepers — Luke 17:17
Jesus healed them even though they did not return to give thanks.

The people of Jerusalem — Luke 13:34
Jesus longed for them to know His protection even though they had not appreciated His coming.

You and I — Romans 5:8
Jesus loved us enough to die for us while we were as ungrateful as possible — dead in our sins.

How thankful are you? Would the people around you agree? Would God agree? How has, and does, God love you when you are not as thankful as you ought to be?  By examining how Jesus loved the ungrateful and looking at the love of the father for the older son in the story of the prodigal son, we find that we can love like Jesus when we learn to . . .

  • Love Them.  Luke 15:28
    • I suspect that most people find it uncomfortable and discouraging to be around those we consider to be obnoxiously ungrateful.  When we read the reaction of this older son in the story of the prodigal son, we aren’t left to wonder what the father’s reaction was . . . the father loved him and pleaded with him to join the celebration.  The ungratefulness of the son did not lessen the father’s love for him.  In fact, I think it actually makes the father’s love more obvious.  It shouldn’t take too long when we consider our own life to realize that we have been that ungrateful child more often than we care to admit.  Yet, just like the father in the story, Jesus loves us and pleads with us to come home.  When we choose to lift the ungrateful like Jesus does, we must chose to love people no matter what.
  • Include Them.  Luke 15:31
    • While our first reaction to someone that is chronically ungrateful probably would have us running in the opposite direction, the father in our story did his best to remind the son that he was, and had always been, part of the family.  When our ungratefulness isolates us, it simply leads to an even deeper level of ingratitude.  Our act of including those who feel unappreciated goes a long way toward lifting them from the depths of despair that they may be feeling.  Jesus sets the example when He sacrifices Himself so that we can be included and become children of God.  When we choose to lift the ungrateful like Jesus does, we must choose to include them..
  • Focus Them.  Luke 15:29-30
    • As we love and include the ungrateful, we gain an opportunity to help focus them.  The father in our story let the older son talk and give his side of the story but he didn’t leave it there.  Many times our ungratefulness comes because we can’t see the big picture yet we think we know everything that is going on.  Listening to the stories told by others ought to help us have a greater understanding of what is important to them and why they are not thankful for what they have.  When we choose to lift the ungrateful like Jesus does, we must choose to help focus people on the work of God that is taking place all around us.
  • Teach Them.  Luke 15:32
    • The final part of loving the ungrateful enough to lift them is to take the time to teach.  After our thoughts are turned toward God, we are better prepared to accept the teaching that He gives.  When we love, include, and focus the ungrateful around us, and even within us, we set the stage for real teaching to take place.  In our story, the father takes the time to teach the older son why they had to celebrate and just how big of a deal it really was for the younger son to return home.  When we choose to lift the ungrateful like Jesus does, we much choose to teach them accurately and completely according to God’s Word.

Today, how will you LIFT those around you that seem to be ungrateful?

Encouragement and Prayer: Restored Gently! (11/18/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Restored Gently! (11/18/22)

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This is the audio from the November 18, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on how God restores us and calls us to be involved in sharing the good news of that restoration with others.  It is comforting to know that regardless of how much of a lost cause I may look like to myself or to others, God still has the ability and desire to restore me to Himself.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the hope of His glory as He continues His work of restoration in your life even through suffering.  Pray that the restoration you receive from God would help you be willing to restore others with gentleness.  Pray that your compassion in restoring others would not lead you to participate in wrongdoing.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Restored at the Return of Jesus! (11/17/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Restored at the Return of Jesus! (11/17/22)

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This is the audio from the November 17, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on how God restores us and calls us to be involved in sharing the good news of that restoration with others.  It is comforting to know that regardless of how much of a lost cause I may look like to myself or to others, God still has the ability and desire to restore me to Himself.

“He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
Acts 3:21 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the hope of His glory as He continues His work of restoration in your life even through suffering.  Pray for a patient understanding that complete restoration will not take place until Jesus returns.  Pray that you would be involved in living the process of restoration until that time when Jesus returns.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Restored Through Repentance! (11/16/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Restored Through Repentance! (11/16/22)

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This is the audio from the November 16, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on how God restores us and calls us to be involved in sharing the good news of that restoration with others.  It is comforting to know that regardless of how much of a lost cause I may look like to myself or to others, God still has the ability and desire to restore me to Himself.

“Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.'”
Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the hope of His glory as He continues His work of restoration in your life even through suffering.  Pray that you would always repent of any sin and wrongdoing that keeps you from serving God.  Pray that the restoration you receive would help others to know of God’s love for them.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Restored to Life! (11/15/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Restored to Life! (11/15/22)

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This is the audio from the November 15, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on how God restores us and calls us to be involved in sharing the good news of that restoration with others.  It is comforting to know that regardless of how much of a lost cause I may look like to myself or to others, God still has the ability and desire to restore me to Himself.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the hope of His glory as He continues His work of restoration in your life even through suffering.  Pray that you realize His current restoration work in your life as well as anticipate the complete restoration when you see Jesus face to face.  Pray that you would carry with you a message of restoration to the people around you who are losing, or have lost, hope.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:12 (NIV)

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”
Psalm 71:20 (NIV)

Pray that God would fill you with an indescribable joy because of the salvation you have in Christ.  Pray that your joy would be sustained by a steadfast spirit within you.  Pray that your representation of Jesus to others would help them to know a joy that only He can give. Pray that you would have a confident hope in Christ that even the midst of great troubles, and even death, God will restore you to life with Him through His Son, Jesus.  Pray about how God would have you share the message of life.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Loving the Broken-Hearted: Learn to HUG! (Sermon Audio)
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Loving the Broken-Hearted: Learn to HUG! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 13, 2022 sermon, “Loving the Broken-Hearted: Learn to HUG!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  John 11:21-42

As we continue our “Loved By Jesus, Love Like Jesus” series, we will look at people who encountered Jesus and experience His love in the midst of their brokenness.

Rich young ruler — Luke 18:23
“I just can’t do it!”

Peter — Luke 22:62
“Why did I do such a terrible thing?!?”

Martha & Mary — John 11:21 & 32
“God, where were you?!?”

Brokenness seems to be a part of life and I suspect that most of us end up heartbroken more often than we would like, and perhaps more often than we would care to admit. The good news is that Jesus loved the brokenhearted whether that brokenness was a result of loss or of poor decisions or any other reason. By examining how Jesus loved the broken, we find that we can love like Jesus when we learn to . . .

  • Hear Words.  Luke 11:21-23
    • Sometimes the words of the brokenhearted are difficult to hear.  Even thought there appears to be an almost accusatory tone in the heartbreak of Martha and Mary, there are also seeds of faith in their words.  Jesus loved them enough to hear what they were saying and to respond in ways that made it clear they were heard.  When we seek to love like Jesus, we must learn to really listen so we hear what others say.
  • Understand Heart.  Matthew 14:15-16
    • Hearing the words of the brokenhearted ought to help us have a greater understanding of their heart . . . and of our own heart.  Through actively listening, Jesus understood the pain being experienced by Martha and Mary.  God calls for us to weep with those who weep.  I believe this instruction, and Jesus weeping in our text, is not just a matter of joining in the action but more importantly, joining in the sorrow.  When we seek to love like Jesus, we must learn to open our heart to an understanding of the hearts of others..
  • Give Hope.  Matthew 14:17-19
    • I suspect we’ve all had times when someone has promised something that we knew they would never be able to deliver even if they really wanted to.  Jesus comforted Martha and Mary with words that were not just mere words, but were words He could back up with action.  He provided hope not just to Martha and Mary by raising Lazarus from the dead, but hope to all who believe.  His actions made it clear that what He said was true whether we could see immediate results or not.  Jesus being the resurrection and the life ought to give hope to everyone who hears that proclamation because He demonstrated His power of life over death.  When we seek to love like Jesus, we must do so giving the only hope that is secure — the hope of Jesus.

Today, will you love the broken-hearted by learning to HUG?