Encouragement and Prayer (12/23/20)

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This is the audio from the December 23, 2020 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

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Obedience

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Obedience

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day seventeen from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Obedience

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

How important is obedience in your home?  In the home you grew up in?  In the home you hope to have?  How do you decide who/what to obey?  Do you belong to any groups or organizations that requires adherence to their set of standards to belong?  Why would you agree to obey their standards?  How would you feel about someone that wanted the benefits of the group without following the rules of the group?  How does a home of obedience provide a sense of belonging?

I grew up in a home where there was an expectation of obedience.  While I didn’t always obey perfectly, the expectation in place always helped me feel like I belonged.  While obedience in my earliest years had a lot to do with a desire to avoid punishment, I eventually grew to where I obeyed out of love and respect.  The home we are headed to is characterized by obedient children who love and respect their Father.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with a desire to do what He says.  Pray that you would repent of acts of disobedience and seek to make choices that honor the One you love.  Pray that your obedience today would prepare you for home.

In prayer,

Tom

Encouragement and Prayer (12/22/20)

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This is the audio from the December 22, 2020 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

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Majesty

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Majesty

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day sixteen from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Majesty

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Hebrews 8:1-2 (NIV)

What image comes to your mind when you think of majesty?  What does your dream home look like?  Do you expect it will ever be a reality, or just a dream?  Why?  Is it possible to build a place with all of the best and most valuable materials, and it not be majestic?  What does it take for something, or someone, to truly have majesty?  Have you ever walked into a room or building and simply said, “Wow!” (in a good way)?  What was so impressive?

As I travel, there are times I walk into a building and am instantly impressed by the majesty that it presents.  I am often more impressed by the majesty that I find out on a hike when I am surrounded by the true majesty of God’s creation.  While mankind has been gifted by God to build things which are beautiful and majestic, they all fall short of the majesty that flows from the very presence of God.  As you pray, ask God to help you notice the glimpses of His majesty that He has surrounded you with.  Pray that you would do your best each day to reflect the majesty that God has created in you.  Pray that you would never tire of the “Wow!” factor.

In prayer,

Tom

Encouragement and Prayer (12/21/20)

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This is the audio from the December 21, 2020 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

Almost Heaven: A Home With Living Bread

Almost Heaven: A Home With Living Bread

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day fifteen from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home With Living Bread

But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 6:50-51 (NIV)

What food do you find most satisfying?  Why?  How often do you eat it?  Do you think you would get tired of it if it was all you ever had?  Why/why not?  What things do you use to try to satisfy the hungers you have in life?  If you could have a single thing that would completely satisfy you, would you want it?  What would you do to obtain it?  How does knowing that Jesus is the living bread that can sustain you each day help you as you journey home?

I grew up in a home where there was little money but we always had food and plenty of homemade bread.  When Jesus began talking about being the bread of life, many began to question how Jesus could be greater than the manna Moses had given.  Jesus responded that Moses had only distributed bread which had come from God and now He was the living bread which came down from heaven.  As you pray, ask God to help you know Him as the one who sustains your very life.  Pray that you would share with everyone the living bread that God has given you in Jesus.  Pray that your home would be filled with the presence of this bread.

In prayer,

Tom

Encouragement and Prayer (12/20/20)

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This is the audio from the December 20, 2020 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

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Right Judgment

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Right Judgment

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day fourteen from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Right Judgment

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20 (NIV)

Have you ever had someone pass judgment on you that was based on incorrect information?  How did it make you feel?  Do you tend to judge others based on information that may be incorrect or missing?  How do you know?  Have you ever had a judgment made against you that you didn’t like but you knew they were right about it?  How did you respond?  Does knowing that God’s standards are right and never-changing give you peace concerning His wrath?

While we may not mind undeserved credit, we definitely don’t want undeserved blame.  One thing we can count on in God’s home is that His judgments will be always be right and always be based on truth.  People, even you and I, can be very quick to pass judgment on others whether we have accurate information or not.  As we journey towards our home in heaven, God wants us to seek Him for right judgments.  As you pray, ask God to help you trust His judgments.  Pray that you would turn to God when others make judgments about you that are inaccurate.  Pray that the judgments you make in life would be based in the truth of God’s Word.

In prayer,

Tom