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This is the audio from the February 21, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In prayer,
Tom
It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others. There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others. Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season. I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.
This is day one in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”. This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others. Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.“
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
How often do you feel alone? What does it take to remind you that you are not? Do you have friends who would help you no matter what trouble you were in? Are there friends that you would help no matter what trouble they were in? Why? Do you like having help when you serve? Do you like to help others serve? Who do you need to value today by being their friend?
I remember a grade school (years ago) class picnic at the local park where a classmate jumped off of a swing and landed in a way that hurt his ankle. This happened near the end of our field day, so everyone began leaving while he laid on the ground waiting for the help that had been called. I had ridden my bike to school that day, so as unusual as it sounds even to me, I stayed with him until help arrived that could get his ankle checked out properly. I’m sure I didn’t have anything to say during the entire time but even at that age I knew the value of being a friend. Friendship has great value because it shows by our actions that someone really cares.
As you pray, ask God to help you serve through a building of friendships with those you serve with and those you serve.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 20, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In prayer,
Tom
It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others. There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others. Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season. I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.
This is day seven in the sixth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”. This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others. Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.“
James 2:14-17 (NIV)
Do you know people who claim to believe a particular thing but live completely different from what they say? Which are you more likely to believe, their words or their actions? Are you a person whose words and actions match when it comes to your faith in God? How would your life answer the question posed by James, “What good is your faith if it is not accompanied by action?” What would active faith look like today in the area you serve?
One of my mentors used to challenge me to never pray about something that I wasn’t willing for God to use me to be part of His answer to the prayer. It is easy to pray for people and situations, believing that God will provide, when we can do so from a distance. I love a song I heard recently with a story-line of a man praying (complaining) to God about how bad everything is and asking why God doesn’t do something. In the song, the response from God is, “I did! I created you!”
As you pray, ask God to help you see your active part in His working in the lives of people. Pray that you would be more intentional in serving as you see yourself being the hands and feet of Jesus to the people you serve.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 19, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In prayer,
Tom
It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others. There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others. Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season. I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.
This is day six in the sixth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”. This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others. Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.“
Romans 10:17 (NIV)
What do you believe in? What would your friends say you believe in? Would those answers be different? Why? Have you ever found out that a long-time friend or co-worker, that you never would have guessed was a believer, was a Christian? Why did you never think so? Who is the last person you told about your faith in Christ? How long did it take you to come up with an answer to that question? How will you be sure your faith is both seen and heard as you serve?
Perhaps you have read stories, or even known someone, that has died after living in apparent poverty only to have it revealed afterwards that they were actually quite wealthy. We hear that and most people think, “how sad”. Yet even more sad is when a person enters a relationship with Christ and no one around them is aware of their faith. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing, but not just any hearing, it is the hearing of the Word of God. As we serve, it is important that we communicate our faith in both words and actions.
As you pray, ask God to help you be intentional about making your faith known. Pray that you would clearly communicate your faith as you serve today.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 18, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In prayer,
Tom
It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others. There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others. Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season. I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.
This is day five in the sixth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”. This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others. Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
Who is your best friend? Do you agree on everything? What keeps your friendship intact even when you have differing opinions? How does having a common set of beliefs help unite a group of unique individuals? What are your core beliefs that you would never consider giving up? How does identifying those core beliefs help create greater unity with people who may differ in a lot of “non-core” areas?
As I travel the country and visit a variety of churches, I see a lot of church splits. Some have parted ways and set up their own “house of worship” across the street or down the block. There are even more that meet in the same building; the split is between groups that simply won’t talk with each other. God’s desire is that our faith in Him, the foundation of our relationship with Jesus, would unite us as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is this faith that unites which allows us to serve when the non-essentials of our faith may not align with all the practices of those we serve.
As you pray, ask God to bring you into greater unity with other believers through your shared faith. Pray that your faith in Christ would be a bridge to those you serve rather than a wall.
In prayer,
Tom
Tom's Treasure 