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This is the audio from the February 12, 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 fifth 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.
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.“
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV)
Why do you serve? Do you love what you do? Do you love who you serve? Would the people around you say you excel in love for them? For one another? Does your love for Christ motivate you to serve Him willingly? Would the level of love you express to those you serve be different if you were to consciously recognize you are serving Christ as you serve them? What specific things can you do today that would help you excel in love? Will you do them?
There are few things, if any, that people excel at with little or no effort. Often times we want a short-cut. We want to be the best without putting forth best quality effort. When it comes to excelling in love, we have the best possible example when we look to Jesus. He said, “greater love has no one than to give his life for his friend.” The example of Jesus was to literally give His life but He also left the example of the “full extent of His love” in teaching us to serve.
As you pray, ask God to give you a desire to excel in love. Pray that you would serve well because of the love you have for God and the love He gives you for others. Pray that you would see love as the motivation behind your service.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 11, 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 fifth 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.
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.“
Hebrews 11:5-6 (NIV)
How serious are you about the things you do? The things you say? The life you live? The way you serve? As you evaluate your life and goals, how determined are you? Would the people closest to you describe you as determined? What are your motives for serving? Are you easily distracted from doing the works of service you are called to do? How would the service you are doing now be different if you were excelling in earnestness?
JK . . . lol . . . nm . . . Seriously? We use initials, words, and catch phrases all the time to add a disclaimer to what we do. Just kidding, laugh out loud, and never mind are poor substitutes for saying what we mean and meaning what we say. God wants us to excel in earnestness so that our “yes” is yes and our “no” is no. Earnestness is important when we serve because people can typically see through the disclaimers we use and into the heart of the matter — our heart for them.
As you pray, pray that your earnestness in seeking God would transform the way you serve. Pray that the people you serve would see you as completely genuine in your walk with Christ and in your service to them.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 10, 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 fifth 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.
“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.“
2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)
How much do you know about God? How well do you know God? What is the difference? How is knowing about those you serve different than knowing those you serve? What value does each of those forms of knowledge have in serving? How much effort do you put into growing in the knowledge that will help you serve? Do you know people who have excelled in knowledge? Why do you think they have?
It is good to know people who excel in knowledge. It is even better to be one. Information is good, but knowing what to do with the information at hand is even better. Serving well requires that you excel in many things, but nothing is more important than excelling in your knowledge of God. While that must come first, serving well also requires that we excel in a knowledge of those we serve. It is through a desire to be like Christ, and to know what that looks like, that we learn to serve with an excellence of knowledge.
As you pray, ask God to fill you with an overwhelming desire to know Him. Pray that you would use your knowledge of God to help you serve in all that you do. Pray that you would take the time to grow in knowledge of those you serve.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the February 9, 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 fifth 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.
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.“
1 Peter 3:9-11 (NIV)
How difficult is it to guard your words? Does that answer change based on how you are sharing your words? Do you find it easy to share something on social media that you would never say out loud? Does your mouth seem to have an automatic response that says things you later regret? How often do your words get you in trouble or come back to haunt you?
James tells us that “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Sometimes when serving others we allow familiarity to spill out of our mouth in words that are not helpful or loving. Particularly in today’s culture, our speech is much more than the words we speak, we must take care to be excellent in every manner of using words. We serve best when we pay attention to our words and are known as one who is excellent in speech.
As you pray, ask God to help you examine every form of the words you use. Pray that you would be careful to use excellent words which build up the listener according to their needs. Pray that you would be a good listener, both to God and others, as you learn to speak with excellence.
In prayer,
Tom
Tom's Treasure 