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This is the audio from the March 26, 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 eleventh 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.
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.“
James 5:7-8 (NIV)
Do you ever feel like giving up? Have you done so? Why? Does knowing that the Lord’s coming is near give you greater patience in standing firm as you serve? How does having the patience to stand firm help you as you serve people who may not want to accept your help, or may want something different than what you are able to offer? How do you know what to stand firm on and what to be flexible in?
People want all kinds of things which are often very different from what they need. When you live a life that serves people, you will be asked to do a wide variety of things — some may benefit those you serve and other things may not. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to stand firm in giving what is needed and helpful rather than what is wanted and harmful. With patience, we must stand firm in sharing the good news of Jesus as we serve others in whatever ways meet their actual needs. It is through patience that we often win the opportunity to tell of a coming Lord. As you pray, ask God to help you know when to stand firm as you serve others. Pray that your desire to stand firm would not only keep you ready for the Lord’s return, but would keep you focused on serving people in a way that helps them to be ready.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the March 25, 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 eleventh 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.
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.“
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
How often do you share the Word of God while you serve? Why? What kind of results do you expect to see from sharing God’s Word? Do the results always come when you expect them to? How does not seeing immediate results test your patience when it comes to sharing God’s Word? Have you ever not shared what you should have because you didn’t think it would make a difference? Does that say more about the power of God’s Word, or about you?
The Bible talks about the process that takes place in bringing about a changed life through the Word of God. We read that some prepare the ground, some plant the seed, some water, and some do a variety of things to help the Word of God grow in a person, but it is always the Lord who brings about the increase. When we serve others by sharing God’s Word, we must realize that our work is just a part of the process. Occasionally, our part is near the end of the process and we get to see a person respond immediately in accepting the Word of God, but more often we must wait patiently for God to use the seeds and water we have spoken and bring about a harvest in His time. As you pray, ask God to give you the patience needed to continue sharing His Word as you serve.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the March 24, 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 four in the eleventh 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.
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.“
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NIV)
Are there certain people that you find it difficult to be patient with? Are there times when people are not as patient with you as you think they ought to be? What characteristics of people do you find you have the least amount of patience with? How does losing your patience with one person affect how you serve someone else? Why is having patience with everyone important to those you serve?
It is easy for most of us to let certain actions of people irritate us to the point that we have no patience with what they are doing, or with them. Unfortunately, not only is our ability to serve them well diminished as our patience decreases, the lack of patience becomes contagious and spreads to others around us who we would otherwise have great patience with. As we serve, we usually need people to have patience with us. Yet when our lack of patience infects those we are to serve, we soon discover an atmosphere where everyone has a really short fuse. As you pray, ask God to help you to have patience with everyone. Pray that you would have particular growth in your patience with those whom you have difficulty with. Pray that the way you patiently serve others would be reflected in their level of patience with you.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the March 23, 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 three in the eleventh 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.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.“
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
What are some things that you find difficult to do on your own? How much help would it be to have someone who knows what they are doing assist you? How readily do you accept help when you know it is available? How do the things that surround patience as part of the fruit of God’s Spirit help you to serve with greater patience? How often do you turn to God for help in having patience with others when patience is not what you feel?
Many times people will pick apart the fruit of God’s Spirit and claim the elements they find pleasing while avoiding the ones that seem like extra work. For me, the good news when we lack patience with people and situations is that I don’t have to come up with the necessary patience on my own — God’s Spirit will produce it in me if I seek it and allow it to take place. Serving others often calls for a level of patience that can be difficult to have on our own. Without the presence of God through His Spirit, we simply don’t have what it takes to be as patient as we ought to be. As you pray, ask God to give you the courage necessary to allow His Spirit to produce patience in your life. Pray that He would be seen as His Spirit produces a patience in the way you serve others.
In prayer,
Tom
Tom's Treasure 