Encouragement and Prayer:  A Loving Search! (02/15/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Search! (02/15/22)

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

“I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on our response to God’s love.  While much time, effort, and money will be spent by individuals this week trying to express their love toward one another, the psalmist gives us some great insight into how to respond to God’s love in ways that are good and right.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His love.  Pray that God’s love would lead you to seek Him in all circumstances of life.  Pray that God’s graciousness is known by you as you seek His face wholeheartedly.  Pray that God’s promises would lead you to not only search for Him with a whole heart, but to share Him with others.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Love That Is GREAT! (Sermon Audio)

A Love That Is GREAT! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 13, 2022 sermon, “A Love That Is GREAT”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  1 John 3:16-24
1 John 3:1, John 15:13, 1 Corinthians 13:13

When we love God, love people, and follow Jesus we are called to rise above the ordinary views of this world and learn to live with a love that is . . .

  • Giving.  1 John 3:16, John 3:16
    • When we learn of God’s love, we find that at its very core is a love that is giving.  When we seek to live with a love that is great, it is critical that we learn to give.  The good news when it comes to giving is that everything we have that would be worth giving is not of ourselves but comes from God.  It is when we realize the greatness of God’s love that has been given to us, we learn to live with a great love when we learn to give.
  • Respectful.  1 John 3:17, Romans 5:8
    • Living with a great love means that we extend that love to everyone with gentleness and respect.  A respectful love is one that is offered unconditionally without regard for how similar or different a person might be from us.  God’s example of a love that is respectful is that Christ died for us while we were sinners.  Our love for others should always be appropriate and fitting, but it should also include everyone.
  • Encouraging.  1 John 3:21-22, Philippians 2:1-2
    • God’s Word tells us that we ought to be encouraged by His love as we live united with Christ.  His desire and plan in giving us His Spirit is so that we would be comforted and encouraged throughout all of the details of life.  We also find that living with a great love will call each one of us to encourage others.  When we  have that same love as Christ demonstrated toward us, we live with a love that is encouraging to everyone we meet.
  • Active.  1 John 3:18, Luke 6:35
    • Just as James tells us that faith without works is dead, love without action is likely not love at all.  In fact, when God tells us to love our enemies He clarifies that we are to do good to them.  It’s not that we don’t use words, but rather that whatever words we use are backed up by a life that puts into practice the things we know and say about God’s love.  When we live with a love that is great, we find that our actions really do speak louder than our words.
  • True.  1 John 3:19-20, 1 John 4:20-21
    • God says that if we claim to love Him yet hate our brother then the truth is not in us.  Jesus makes it clear that He is the way, the truth and the life all while proclaiming God is love.  When we live with a love that is true, we seek to be genuine in our pursuit of God and in the way we treat one another.  Living with a love that is great will require us to accept God’s Word as absolute truth in such a way that we choose to love the people that we can see just like we claim to love the God that we can’t see.

God has shown us through His Word, through His Son, and through His Spirit what a love that is GREAT looks like.  The question each of us needs to ask is this, “Will I live with a love that is GREAT?”

Encouragement and Prayer:  A Loving Promise! (02/14/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Promise! (02/14/22)

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This is the audio from the February 14, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.  I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.  I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.  I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.  Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.  At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”
Psalm 119:57-62

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on our response to God’s love.  While much time, effort, and money will be spent by individuals this week trying to express their love toward one another, the psalmist gives us some great insight into how to respond to God’s love in ways that are good and right.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His love.  Pray that you would seek to live with a loving response that is first directed toward God.  Pray that your response to God would shape and direct your love for others.  Pray for the wisdom and courage needed to love others with a love that accurately reflects God’s love for you.

“You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.”
Psalm 119:57 (NIV)

Pray that knowing God as yours, and yourself as His, would lead you to promise your life to Him.  Pray that having the Lord as your God would cause you to not only make, but keep a promise to obey His words.  Pray that you would live with a growing desire to know God’s words in a way that expresses your love for Him.

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:  A Time To Plant For Eternity! (02/11/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Time To Plant For Eternity! (02/11/22)

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This is the audio from the February 11, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about some things that God would have us to plant in order to have a good harvest.  Planting requires that we work now even as we look toward the future.  For many gardeners, the snow covered ground where I live signals a time to browse seed catalogs and purchase the seeds which represent the harvest they hope to enjoy.

As you pray this week, spend time with God learning what you ought to be planting.  Pray that you would always be mindful of the true nature of all that you are planting.  Pray that God’s Spirit would fill you with an awareness of the things which lead to eternal life.

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:  A Time To Plant What You’ve Been Given! (02/10/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Time To Plant What You’ve Been Given! (02/10/22)

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This is the audio from the February 10, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about some things that God would have us to plant in order to have a good harvest.  Planting requires that we work now even as we look toward the future.  For many gardeners, the snow covered ground where I live signals a time to browse seed catalogs and purchase the seeds which represent the harvest they hope to enjoy.

As you pray this week, spend time with God learning what you ought to be planting.  Pray that you would know God as the source of all good things.  Pray for an increase in what you plant, and in what you harvest, as you trust God to supply both.  Pray about how God would have you use everything He has given you.

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:  A Time To Plant Generously! (02/09/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Time To Plant Generously! (02/09/22)

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This is the audio from the February 9, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about some things that God would have us to plant in order to have a good harvest.  Planting requires that we work now even as we look toward the future.  For many gardeners, the snow covered ground where I live signals a time to browse seed catalogs and purchase the seeds which represent the harvest they hope to enjoy.

As you pray this week, spend time with God learning what you ought to be planting.  Pray that you would learn to plant generously as one who desires a generous harvest.  Pray for a spirit of generosity that reflects the nature of God.  Pray that your life would be one that bears much fruit as a result of what you plant.

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:  A Time To Plant Righteousness! (02/08/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Time To Plant Righteousness! (02/08/22)

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This is the audio from the February 8, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about some things that God would have us to plant in order to have a good harvest.  Planting requires that we work now even as we look toward the future.  For many gardeners, the snow covered ground where I live signals a time to browse seed catalogs and purchase the seeds which represent the harvest they hope to enjoy.

As you pray this week, spend time with God learning what you ought to be planting.  Pray that God would soften hardened hearts, even your own, as you plant seeds of righteousness.  Pray that a continual seeking of God would take place as you plant righteousness.

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:  A Time To Plant With Tears! (02/07/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Time To Plant With Tears! (02/07/22)

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This is the audio from the February 7, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about some things that God would have us to plant in order to have a good harvest.  Planting requires that we work now even as we look toward the future.  For many gardeners, the snow covered ground where I live signals a time to browse seed catalogs and purchase the seeds which represent the harvest they hope to enjoy.

As you pray this week, spend time with God learning what you ought to be planting.  Pray that your work today would prepare a great harvest in your life and in the lives you are planting in.  Pray for wisdom in recognizing the time to plant is now.  Pray for the humility needed to plant with gentleness and respect as you share the good news of Jesus with others.  Pray for a growing faith that continues to plant when the time for harvest seems uncertain.

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”
Psalm 126:5 (NIV)

Pray that the seeds planted in your life, and planted by your life, would be watered by the tears which come from the godly sorrow of repentance.  Pray for a glimpse beyond the tears of today to see the joy that awaits those who are faithful.  Pray that the things you plant today would lead to joy in the lives of others.

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

In prayer,
Tom