This is the audio from the May 26, 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
While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”! Over the next 8 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself. Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.
Here is day twenty-four with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be a saint.
“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.“
Romans 1:7 (NIV)
What do you think of when you hear the word saint? Why? Who do you first think of when you think about a saint? Why? Is it a word you think of often when considering your own life? Why? How much of your life do you allow God to use? Are you sure? Is there a difference between God using a person’s actions and God having exclusive use of a person? Explain. How do you feel about being called by God to be a saint? Why? According to God, what makes a person a saint? Explain.
While common use of the word may make sainthood appear unattainable to the average Christian, God’s calling is much broader. In fact, He calls every believer to be a saint — a person set apart for God’s exclusive use. In this way, being a saint isn’t dependent on our goodness or our special deeds but it is completely dependent on a full surrender to the goodness of God and a willingness to do His work. We don’t “earn” the title of saint by our good deeds, rather we live life doing the good works God created in advance for us because we have been called by God to be a saint — and that’s what His saints do!
As you pray about being called to be a saint, ask God to help you evaluate why you do the good that you do. Pray that you would be obedient to the things of God because He has called you to be set apart for Him, not in order to earn some special title. Pray that you would carefully consider what things are appropriate for you to do as one fully surrendered to God. Pray that your life would reflect Jesus to others as you give Him authority over everything you do.
In prayer,
Tom
Here is the audio of my reading of the poem, “Great Sacrifice” that I wrote on May 26, 2014.
Many have served,
this much I know.
But how much honor
do we really show?
One day a year
we think of the brave.
Who fought in a war
that led to their grave.
On yet another,
we thank those alive.
Who served our great country
so freedom could thrive.
But as I consider
the price that was paid.
The honor returned
seems quickly to fade.
Do we really care
the rest of the year?
For a child with no dad
and a parent’s worst fear?
A son or a daughter
who paid with their life.
Is the worst kind of news,
it will cut like a knife.
Do we stand there with them
in the days filled with pain?
Or do we run and hide
when the tears flow like rain?
Do we give of ourselves
what their loved one cannot?
Or do we walk away
when the heat gets too hot?
We say we are thankful,
but does it really show?
To those who have given,
do they really know?
What would it look like
to honor sacrifice?
It requires our actions,
beyond, “Oh, that is nice!”.
To simply say, “Thank you.”
is not nearly enough.
We show our true thanks
when the going gets rough.
To give of ourselves
is an honor indeed.
To care for the hurting
at their point of need.
It is so very easy,
when we don’t see a face.
To treat those who gave
with utter disgrace.
So how will you thank
those left behind?
Of the one who has died
so that peace you may find?
To honor those serving,
from now and the past.
And pray that they know,
your gratitude will last.
While we are talking,
about great sacrifice.
There is One who did die
while His guards rolled the dice.
He gave His life for me
so that I could be free.
He bought my redemption
as He hung on a tree.
The freedom He offers
is not just for today.
Past, present, and future
as I follow His way!
© 2014 by Tom Lemler
As I was thinking about Memorial Day and praying for families who experience pain and emptiness because of the sacrifice a loved one has made, this poem filled my mind. Because those who serve deserve honor, we have a tendency to merge Memorial Day and Veterans Day together. The tragedy isn’t that we give too much honor to those who have served, it is that we often only think about them on one or two days of the year! The much publicized scandals within our nations Veterans Administration should be an outrage to every American. But if each of us were to do our part in honoring and remembering every day those who have served, so many of these veterans and their families would be cared for in meaningful ways beyond what can be accomplished by the government. If we were to truly honor and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us, we would be doing the things that express love and care for our fellow-man. I pray that our life in Christ would be visible in the way we treat others.
In prayer,
Tom
This is the audio from the May 25, 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
While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”! Over the next 9 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself. Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.
Here is day twenty-three with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to live a life of sacrifice.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’“
Mark 8:34 (NIV)
What do you think is the biggest obstacle to a willingness to sacrifice? Why? Are there things in this life you have sacrificed for in order to have (i.e. car, house, vacation, relationship, etc.)? Why did you sacrifice? Was it worth it? Why? What determines your willingness to sacrifice and the extent to which you are willing to sacrifice? How does seeing a greater future value make you feel about giving up something that has a temporary value? Is there anything more valuable to you than an eternity with God?
I’ve not yet met anyone who has been able to have everything they wanted at no cost to them. Much of our life seems to be spent evaluating our priorities and determining what we’re willing to give up in order to have the things we really want. It is in relationship with God that we begin to see the true value of things and discover that giving up temporary treasures for that which is eternal is worth it no matter the cost. Jesus made it clear in His life and teaching that being His disciple came with a huge cost, yet denying self and dying with Christ yields an outcome that far surpasses the sacrifice of everything we have.
As you pray about being called to sacrifice, ask God to reveal to you anything which you still cling to that has become more important than Him. Pray that you would consider giving up everything you are and everything you have as being a small sacrifice compared to the surpassing riches of His glory. Pray for the courage to not only surrender the entirety of your life to Christ, but in that surrender to allow Him to use everything under your care for His purposes and glory.
In prayer,
Tom
This is the audio from the May 24, 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
While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”! Over the next 10 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself. Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.
Here is day twenty-two with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be a peacemaker.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.“
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Does your presence in a situation tend to increase the peace or the conflict? Why? How does your response to God’s call to peace influence your ability to be a peacemaker? Are there people in your life who have been difficult for you to make peace with? Why? Is it always possible to be at peace with everyone? Explain. What does it take for you to be at peace with God? With others? How can you apply those things to being one who helps others to have peace with God, with you, and with one another?
When we live with the peace that only God can give, He expects us to find ways to make peace even with our enemies. While peace is a two-sided proposition and we can’t force someone to a position of peace with us, our responsibility is to do our part as far as peace depends upon us. It is often through the process of listening and forgiveness that we find peace with God and one another and we are able to help others know the peace that comes from God. Living as a peacemaker among people becomes a much easier task when we first have peace with God and work at helping people find peace with Him.
As you pray about being a peacemaker, ask God to help you know exactly what it is that has brought peace into your life. Pray that you would grow in both listening and forgiving as you make peace with the people around you. Pray that you would have the humility necessary to be available as a peacemaker to those who are caught up in the midst of conflict. Pray for the persistence needed to keep at it when the going gets difficult and peace seems elusive.
In prayer,
Tom
This is the audio from the May 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
Tom's Treasure 