This is the audio from the August 6, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
This week’s prayer focus will be about understanding the present time and living according to God’s will. God’s desire is that our understanding of the present time would lead us to wake up and show others His love even as we live in expectation of the fruit of the salvation we experience in Jesus.
Pray that you would accept the lessons that come through God’s discipline. Pray that you would allow discipline to do its work in your life. Pray that the people around you would experience the fruit of God’s discipline.
Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
This is the audio from the August 5, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”
Hebrews 5:12 (NIV)
This week’s prayer focus will be about understanding the present time and living according to God’s will. God’s desire is that our understanding of the present time would lead us to wake up and show others His love even as we live in expectation of the fruit of the salvation we experience in Jesus.
Pray that you would grow in your learning so that you would be prepared to teach others. Pray for the humility needed to accept the teachings of God’s Word so that you would be able to share it with others.
Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
As I anticipate not having reliable internet for a couple days, I am scheduling the written part of today’s devotion ahead of time as there will likely be no live video or recorded audio to go with it.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
This week’s prayer focus will be about understanding the present time and living according to God’s will. God’s desire is that our understanding of the present time would lead us to wake up and show others His love even as we live in expectation of the fruit of the salvation we experience in Jesus.
Pray that you would live with an awareness of the peace that comes from God’s presence in your life. Pray that you would seek peace with God and allow His peace to direct your way of life. Pray that the people around you would see how God is the source of your peace in all situations.
Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
As I anticipate not having reliable internet for a couple days, I am scheduling the written part of today’s devotion ahead of time as there will likely be no live video or recorded audio to go with it.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
This week’s prayer focus will be about understanding the present time and living according to God’s will. God’s desire is that our understanding of the present time would lead us to wake up and show others His love even as we live in expectation of the fruit of the salvation we experience in Jesus.
Pray that you would know that the time for doing good is now. Pray that you would not let weariness keep you from doing the good that God has called you to. Pray that your eyes would stay focused on the harvest of righteousness God has promised to the faithful.
Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
This is the audio from the August 2, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 (NIV)
This week’s prayer focus will be about understanding the present time and living according to God’s will. God’s desire is that our understanding of the present time would lead us to wake up and show others His love even as we live in expectation of the fruit of the salvation we experience in Jesus.
As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only understand the times, but make the most of them. Pray that you would live in the moment with your eyes focused both on the work He has for you now and the future He has prepared for you throughout eternity. Pray that you would know this moment as the time God has given you to make the good news of Jesus known to the people around you. Pray that your life would lead others to decide it is time for them to follow Jesus. Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
Time For Refreshing.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Pray that you would experience the refreshing of your spirit that comes as a result of repentance. Pray that you would live with clean hands and heart as you look for the refreshing that comes from God. Pray that you would share God’s refreshing with others.
Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.
You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
This is audio and outline from the July 25, 2021 sermon, “A Useful LAMP”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.
Text: Mark 4:21-25
When Jesus addressed the multitude in what we call the Sermon on the Mount, He says, “You are the light of the world!” As those called by Jesus to be the light of the world, it is important that we live with a useful:
Life. Mark 4:22, John 10:10
A useful lamp begins with a recognition of the value of life — your own life and the life of every person you will ever meet. Your life is useful not because of how well you measure up to the worlds expectations, but because you were created in the image of God to do the good works He created in advance for you to do. Jesus came to set each one of us free so that we could live life, and live it abundantly. Our lamp is useful when we treat everyone we encounter with the respect that is due simply because God says their life is useful.
Attitude. Mark 4:23, Philippians 2:5
Having ears to hear is much more than simply having physical ears that can hear. In fact, many people have ears which could hear but their attitude is such that nothing makes it in. We have a useful attitude when we open our ears and show by our doing that we understand Jesus has called us to serve others. Our attitude ought to transform our hearing as we grow in our understanding of all that is ours through our relationship with Jesus. Our lamp is useful when the people around us experience a useful attitude from us as we serve them.
Measure. Mark 4:24-25, 2 Corinthians 10:12 & 18
A useful measure is one that evaluates our own life according to the standard of God’s Word and the example of Jesus. Measuring ourselves against one another only serves to feed our pride and arrogance in a way that rarely results in positive change. The standard that ought to be at the front of our mind when it comes to measuring our self, or anyone else, is a desire to hear the words of Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Our lamp is useful when we measure by God’s standards and not by the standards of the world..
Place. Mark 4:21, Matthew 5:16
They say there are three keys to real estate . . . location, location, and location! The same could be said for living as a useful lamp, location is key. But in this case, it is not so much about a particular location as it is about being the light of Jesus in whatever location you happen to be at. A useful lamp is not one that is hidden under a basket, rather it is one that is set out in the open so all can see the good works of God in you, through you, and by you in order to glorify your Father in heaven.
How useful is your LAMP in helping people see Jesus?
This is the daily devotion from the book, “Holding On and Letting Go” and the companion audio from the July 16, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
Here is day ten with an important reminder to not let the enemy take you on a guilt trip for things which are beyond your control.
Let Go Of Guilt
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)
How often do you think about the cause of your current chaos? Why? Do you feel you need someone to blame when things go wrong? What happens when the disaster you face isn’t really caused by a person? How often do you look back in an attempt to see if you could have done anything differently to avoid or lessen the chaos you are in? How will letting go of guilt in the midst of your chaos give you greater freedom to see beyond the immediate?
Second-guessing is a game that has no winners. All of us can look back and see things we could have, and even should have, done differently. Even if we are at fault in some way, holding on to guilt is a dangerous thing that does no good for anyone. One of my favorite verses says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we choose God’s forgiveness, we can let go of the guilt that the enemy wants to haunt us with. Sometimes the guilt we hold on to isn’t even reasonable, but when there is no one else to blame, we blame our self. Letting go of guilt doesn’t mean that we ignore anything we may have done, but rather it means we deal with it and move on. It often feels like the enemy does everything he can to fill us with shame so that we hold on to our guilt. If there is anything to be ashamed of, we must take care of it appropriately and then fully release it to God. When we let go of guilt we find that we not only live with greater peace, but we are also better equipped to handle whatever the day brings.
As you pray, ask God to help you identify any guilty feelings that you may have. Pray that you would see clearly what was your responsibility and what wasn’t so that anything that may need taken care of can be dealt with. Pray that you would know the sweet peace that comes from God’s grace as you let go of guilt.
This is the daily devotion from the book, “Holding On and Letting Go” and the companion audio from the July 15, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.
Here is day nine with an important reminder to keep on keeping on as you hold on to courage.
Hold On To Courage
“But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” Hebrews 3:6 (NIV)
What is the greatest difficulty that you have overcome in the past? What gave you the courage to keep going when things seemed out of control? How much courage will it take to overcome your current situation? How can an awareness of God’s faithfulness help you hold on to the courage you need now?
When fear tells us to quit, courage drives us to keep going. Very few times in life are the obstacles we must face more obvious than in the midst of disaster. Often times the difference between succumbing to disaster and overcoming it comes down to having the courage to keep on going, and keep on trusting God, no matter what. For most of us, we don’t think a lot about courage, or fear, until something happens that puts our courage to the test. In those times when we find many reasons to fear, we are left with a choice — give in to doubt or hold on to courage. When surrounded by chaos, courage is what allows us to keep moving forward even in the face of our fears. It can be difficult to look ahead when the present situation seems so dark and overwhelming, but courage will help us see beyond the darkness and into the light that is God’s presence. As you consider your future, it is important that you keep your gaze lifted beyond the current chaos even as you deal with it on a daily basis. Knowing that you belong to an eternal family should give you a greater perspective in how to face each day’s struggles with courage. With Jesus as our example and strength, we hold on to courage in the midst of chaos and find that our fears no longer have control.
As you pray, ask God to help you understand the things in your current situation that cause you to be filled with fear. Pray that you would live with courage from God that helps you to face each day’s fears and keep going. Pray that you would draw courage from being a part of God’s eternal family.
Tom's Treasure 