Prayer

Holding On and Letting Go: Let Go Of Anger
by

Holding On and Letting Go: Let Go Of Anger

In light of the current “chaos” being caused by both the known and unknown facets of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), here is day four of the daily devotions from the prayer-based devotional I wrote to be used within disaster relief situations.  I believe many of the same lessons we need to learn when dealing with recovery from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake can be helpful as we get through, and recover from, the current levels of chaos we are experiencing.  The book itself is laid out with each day’s devotion alternating between something to hold on to and something to let go of in the midst of life’s chaos.  I’ll be posting a devotion from the book each day or you can find the book on Amazon.  For 5 days, March 13-17, the Kindle edition will be free and you can find it at the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGGBPQ9

Here is day four and an important reminder to check your anger and deal with it in a godly way.

Let Go Of Anger

“‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” 
(Ephesians 4:26-27)

Let Go Of Anger

Does the current chaos you are experiencing make you angry?  Should it?  How does anger influence the way you respond to both people and your situation?  Does anger typically cause a good or bad response?  Explain.  How will letting go of anger free you to see your situation more clearly?

Anger is a natural emotion and reaction, especially when faced with unexpected and unreasonable loss.  The problem with anger in the midst of chaos is that it tends to cloud the vision of both our mind and our eyes.  When the Bible says, “in your anger do not sin”, I believe the instruction is to acknowledge our anger and deal with it so that we can let it go before it infects our actions.  While there may be things, circumstances, and even people that you feel you have a right to be angry with, feeding the anger will only make it grow to the point that it adds to the problem.  Letting go of the anger allows us to address the chaos, and even address the cause of the chaos, from a healthy position of resolution rather than hatred.  When we learn to be angry at the right things, we find that we can allow God to use our anger as an internal motivation for us to make changes we need to make.  It is then that we are able to let go of that anger so that we can begin to see hope in the midst of our chaos.  Unresolved and/or unaddressed anger destroys hope and it is in the addressing and resolving of our anger that we find we can let the anger go and allow hope to grow.

As you pray, ask God to help you understand why you feel angry, and specifically who or what you feel angry toward.  Pray that you would not simply attempt to hide the anger, but address it in ways that allow you to let go of it.  Pray that you would know the hope that comes through letting go of anger after it has been dealt with.

In prayer,
Tom  

Holding On and Letting Go: Hold On To What You Have
by

Holding On and Letting Go: Hold On To What You Have

In light of the current “chaos” being caused by both the known and unknown facets of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), here is day three of the daily devotions from the prayer-based devotional I wrote to be used within disaster relief situations.  I believe many of the same lessons we need to learn when dealing with recovery from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake can be helpful as we get through, and recover from, the current levels of chaos we are experiencing.  The book itself is laid out with each day’s devotion alternating between something to hold on to and something to let go of in the midst of life’s chaos.  I’ll be posting a devotion from the book each day or you can find the book on Amazon.  For 5 days, March 13-17, the Kindle edition will be free and you can find it at the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGGBPQ9

Here is day three and an important reminder to not forget the things you still have.

Hold On To What You Have

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
(Revelation 3:11)

Hold On To What You Have

What do you have?  How difficult is it to answer that question?  Why?  In your current situation, do you tend to think more about what you have lost or about what you still have?  Why?  I don’t know what you have lost in this current crisis.  Perhaps finances, health, trust, peace of mind, freedom of activity, or an entire list of other things may have disappeared in the midst of the chaos surrounding us.  Even if it seems you have lost everything, how focused are you at holding on to faith?

One of the most difficult things for many people to do in the midst of loss is to see what they haven’t lost.  Our mind gets so focused on the disaster we faced that we become blinded to the things we still have.  As we discussed earlier, one of those things should be the people God will bring into our life to provide help and comfort.  The old hymn that says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one”, may sound trite when recovering from a disaster, but taking inventory of what you do have really is a good practice at any time.  When we begin to count more than possessions, we often find much that is within our grasp to hold on to that should give us at least glimmers of hope.  For most of us, there seems to be something within our nature that longs to possess things that we can call our own.  Even the most open and sharing child seems to learn how to say “Mine!” all on their own.  So as you do inventory of both the tangible and intangible things that you still have, find hope as you hold on to the things you have and especially to the things that can never be taken from you.

As you pray, ask God to help you grieve what you have lost even as you identify what you still have.  Pray that you would find hope and comfort through holding on to relationships that continue in the midst of your chaos.  Pray that your time of inventory would help you discover important things that God would have you hold on to.  Pray for the courage to hold loosely even as you hold on to what you have.

In prayer,
Tom  

Holding On and Letting Go: Let Go of Things You Can’t Control
by

Holding On and Letting Go: Let Go of Things You Can’t Control

In light of the current “chaos” being caused by both the known and unknown facets of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), here is day two of the daily devotions from the prayer-based devotional I wrote to be used within disaster relief situations.  I believe many of the same lessons we need to learn when dealing with recovery from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake can be helpful as we get through, and recover from, the current levels of chaos we are experiencing.  The book itself is laid out with each day’s devotion alternating between something to hold on to and something to let go of in the midst of life’s chaos.  I’ll be posting a devotion from the book each day or you can find the book on Amazon.  For 5 days, March 13-17, the Kindle edition will be free and you can find it at the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGGBPQ9

Here is day two and an important reminder to let go of the things you can’t control as you trust God to bring you to a place of peace and hope in the midst of chaos.

Let Go Of Things You Can’t Control

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?”
(Matthew 6:27)

Let Go Of Things You Can’t Control

What part of your current situation feels most beyond your control?  How much do you worry about things you can’t change?  Are there things in the midst of your current chaos that you do have some control over?  How much does the lack of control over some things keep you from taking control of what you can?

Facing a disaster of any kind often brings with it a bewildering feeling of having no control over anything that is going on.  The truth is, even in our most controlling moments, we have far less control than we would like to admit.  When faced with loss, it is important to identify specific things that we simply can’t control.  Some of those things may well be the disaster which brought about the loss, as well as the timetable for any recovery.  Letting go of control doesn’t mean that we give up, or that we don’t put any effort into doing what we can, rather it means that we learn to accept that our recovery will take place on a timetable that will likely change often and is very different than what we would want.  Letting go of the things we can’t control can be one of the early steps toward trusting God to bring hope in the midst of our chaos.  It is important to remember that just because we can’t control what is going on, it doesn’t mean that it is out of His control.  Often times identifying what we can’t control, and then letting go of it, frees us to take appropriate action in the areas that can make a difference in our recovery.  Letting go of what we can’t control helps to bring hope not only because it shows our trust of God, but it allows us concentrate on the things we can still do.

As you pray, ask God to help you let go of the things that you can’t control.  Pray that He would give you wisdom in distinguishing between that which is simply difficult and that which isn’t yours to take care of.  Pray that your trust of Him would grow as you learn to let go of control.

In prayer,
Tom  

Holding On and Letting Go: Hold On to One Another
by

Holding On and Letting Go: Hold On to One Another

In light of the current “chaos” being caused by both the known and unknown facets of the Coronavirus, for the next nineteen days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the prayer-based devotional I wrote to be used within disaster relief situations.  I believe many of the same lessons we need to learn when dealing with recovery from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake can be helpful as we get through, and recover from, the current levels of chaos we are experiencing.  The book itself is laid out with each day’s devotion alternating between something to hold on to and something to let go of in the midst of life’s chaos.  I’ll be posting a devotion from the book each day or you can find the book on Amazon.  For the next 5 days, March 13-17, the Kindle edition will be free and you can find it at the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGGBPQ9

Here is day one and an important reminder to hold on to one another as you look out for each other’s needs and share in their joys and sorrows.

Hold On To One Another

“And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”
(2 Corinthians 1:7)

How alone does your current situation make you feel?  Why?  Are there others affected by the same thing you are currently going through?  Do you think they feel alone?  Why?  Are there people in similar circumstances who would benefit from your willingness to hold on to them?  Do you know people who have already been through what you are dealing with that you could hold on to?  Who?

In the midst of loss, it is God’s desire to bring seeds of comfort to you through people who have received the same comfort that you now need.  No matter the loss, it will generally feel amplified if you must face it alone.  Sometimes the loss is very personal and the enemy would want you to think no one will understand.  Other times the loss is one suffered by many others and the enemy will try to convince you that people have enough grief of their own to worry about.  Neither of those could be further from the truth.  Whether in our most private pain or a very public loss, God has helped to carry others through the very nature of what you are dealing with.  While it may be fun to “rejoice with those who rejoice”, it is just as necessary to “weep with those who weep”.  Holding on to one another won’t solve all the problems, or bring back what was lost, but when those we hold on to are holding on to God, we discover we truly are not alone.

As you pray today, ask God to help you find those who will be someone you can hold on to.  Pray that God would give you the strength needed so that you can be someone others will hold on to, even in your weakness.  Pray that you would find, and be, a community that holds on to one another.

 

In prayer,
Tom  

#PraySTRONG! (Sermon Audio)
by

#PraySTRONG! (Sermon Audio)

 

This is the audio from the December 29, 2019 sermon, “#PraySTRONG”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Zechariah 4:6, Ephesians 6:10-11, 18

Learning to pray strong begins when we realize that the strength of our prayers is not by our power or might, but by the Spirit of the Living God.  

As we develop a lifestyle of prayer seeking to pray strong, we must learn to pray:

  • Submissively:
    • Matthew 6:10 — Perhaps one of the toughest parts of praying strong God’s way, is learning to empty our prayers of self and be fully submissive to God.  Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth just as it is in heaven.  For that to happen, we must take captive every thought and motive that influences our prayers toward our selfish desires.
  • Truthfully: 
    • Luke 18:13 — I suppose we get so used to hiding behind a mask with one another that somehow a lack of honesty with God infiltrates our prayer life.  When we pray truthfully, we begin by being honest with  God about our own weaknesses, shortcomings, and sins so that they don’t become a hindrance to our prayers.  Adam and Eve’s communion with God was interrupted not only by sin, but by an ill-conceived attempt to hide the truth from God. 
  • Repentantly:
    • Matthew 18:3 — Learning to pray truthfully really only becomes powerful when we follow it up with praying repentantly.  It is not enough to be truthful with God about our attitudes and actions, we must turn away from all that is not of Him and allow His transforming power to change us.  Praying repentantly leads us to the freedom necessary to walk in conversation with God in all that we do. 
  • Observantly:
    • John 4:35 — The disciples that walked with Jesus each day often missed the opportunities that were right in front of them simply because they weren’t looking with the same kind of eyes that Jesus was looking with.  Praying observantly leads us to notice people and situations that are far too easy to walk by without a second thought.  When we ask God to open our eyes to see the fields which are ripe unto harvest, we soon discover that the harvest is indeed plentiful and it is much closer than we probably thought.
  • Noticeably
    • Matthew 5:16 — While praying noticeably may sound contradictory to the scripture that tells us to go into our closet and pray in secret, there is a difference between praying to be noticed and praying that is noticed.  In fact, if we learn from Jesus, we see that His prayer life got the attention of the disciples to such an extent that it was the one thing we find recorded in scripture that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them.  Prayer ought to make such a difference in our life that people notice it and even if they don’t know prayer is the reason, they want to know how to have what we have.
  • Globally
    • Matthew 9:38 — I suspect when you read this topic, one of the first things that comes to mind is to pray for those involved in missions work around the world.  While that definitely is included, the oft overlooked part of praying globally is the fact that your next door neighbor, coworker, stranger you encounter in your day to day life, and the homeless person sleeping on the streets are all part of the global population.  Praying globally will have you praying for people who are like you and for people who are very different from you no matter where they live.

When I think about praying strong, I think about Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel.   If you didn’t know the story and who was on which “team”, I think the American concept of praying strong would tend to choose the wrong side of this epic showdown.  Rather than finding strength in numbers, volume, activity, or even length of prayer time, the real strength of prayer was found in a sole individual who humbly asked God to answer in such a way that the people would have no doubt that God was indeed the one and only true God. 

I pray that you and I would learn to pray Submissively, Truthfully, Repentantly, Observantly, Noticeably, and Globally in such a way that those who are watching us would know that the God we serve is the one and only true God.

In prayer,
Tom

Looking For the Perfect GIFT! (Sermon Audio)
by

Looking For the Perfect GIFT! (Sermon Audio)

 

This is the audio from the December 1, 2019 sermon, “Looking For the Perfect GIFT”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text: John 4:10, Colossians 1:27

As we enter a season when many individuals are looking for the perfect gift for someone special, or even for themselves, let’s look at some lessons we can we learn from the things we look for in the perfect gift we give or receive.  Each of these lessons not only help us to give the perfect gift, they help us see Jesus as the perfect gift that has been given to us.  

When looking for the perfect gift, look for:

  • Goodness:
    • Psalm 27:13-14 — When giving a gift that we want to be “just right”, we search for something filled with goodness.  Something that is appropriate for the person and situation the gift is meant for.  The gift must not only meet our standards, but it must be acceptable by the standards the recipient is known for and deserves.  Jesus reminds us that while our nature is to give good gifts to our children, even greater is the nature of His Father to give good gifts to those who are His.  Even in the midst of a very up and down life, David writes of being confident of seeing God’s goodness in the land of the living.  Yes, he knew the goodness of God exists throughout heaven in eternity, but there is also an element of God’s goodness that He showers upon us here on earth — with the supreme example of that goodness being the sending of Jesus to die for our sins.
  • Instructions: 
    • Psalm 25:8-9 — When looking for the perfect gift, we want to be sure it does what it should.  Whether we read them or not, we want to know there are instructions and help available should something not make sense in the use of the gift.  With all of the “some assembly required” gifts that we give, the quality of the instructions go a long way in making sure the gift will look and work as it is supposed to.  When it comes to the perfect gift of Jesus, God has given us His Word to instruct us in every area of life we will face.  Working in combination with His Word, the Holy Spirit has been given to God’s children to help us know and understand the instructions God has given each of us for life.  From entering the kingdom of God, to living as kingdom citizens here on earth, to be ready for eternity in the presence of the King, God’s instructions are both clear and complete. 
  • Freedom:
    • John 8:34-36, 2 Corinthians 3:17 — The perfect gift always comes with an element of freedom, otherwise the gift quickly becomes our master and we soon resent both the gift and the giver for enslaving us.  Many people have received gifts that at first glance appeared to be beneficial and wonderful . . . and then they discovered the time and financial commitment required to keep such a gift.  God has shown us that His laws, even the “thou shalt not” laws, are given to us for the purpose of teaching us how to live as those who are truly free.  The gift of Jesus has been given to us to set us free from both the penalty and the power of sin in our life.  Being cleansed of our sins and living by the power of the Holy Spirit within us frees us to live for Christ rather than for self. 
  • Truth:
    • John 1:14-17, 14:6 — Finally, the perfect gift is always given in truth.  No misrepresentations, no double-talk, no hidden agendas, no bait and switch, and no exaggerations.  In a world that not only wants something for nothing, but wants you to believe it is giving you more than it can, truth in giving can be a very uncommon trait.  The advertising world thrives on making things appear bigger, better, faster, quieter, louder, or whatever other characteristic you desire; than what they really are.  A few years ago, a national sandwich chain took a lot of heat because their “foot-long” sandwiches weren’t really twelve inches long.  They’re initial response did little to satisfy the general public as they simply claimed “foot-long” was meant to be an approximate term and not an actual measurement.  With Jesus as the perfect gift, He makes it clear that He is truth.  In fact, He expects the same from us as He calls us to let our yes be yes and our no be no.  Part of the prayer of Jesus for His followers is that we would be set apart by truth, the truth of God’s Word.

In all the gifts ever given, there is none so perfect as Jesus! 

It is my prayer that you not only accept this perfect gift, but that you would live your live sharing this gift with others.

In prayer,
Tom

Giving Thanks — November 30
by

Giving Thanks — November 30

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NIV)

Today I am thankful for the promises of God — specifically the promised return of Jesus to gather those who are His to Himself.  I am thankful that God has given us His promises for the purpose of encouraging one another.  I am thankful that after a month of writing a daily “Giving Thanks” post, I still have so much more to be thankful for than just the things I’ve written about.  I am thankful that we are not only “caught up” to be with Jesus forever, but we “will be caught up together with them” — the “them” being those who are in Christ but have already passed from this life. 

Clouds have a way of obscuring things as they keep us from clearly seeing what is beyond them.  At times, clouds can completely hide known objects from view yet we live with confidence that what disappeared behind the clouds is still just as present as it was when we could see it.  While there have been lengthy periods of time when the clouds take over and it feels like the sun will never be seen again, but the truth is that it is always there even when unseen and it always breaks through the clouds no matter how many days may pass before it does so.   It is in the cloudy days of life that I am most thankful for the unchanging nature of God as it reassures me that His promises will all be kept. 

As I spent the day with my family chasing a steam locomotive to photograph, we kept looking for the clouds of steam and smoke that rose in the air as a tell-tale sign of where it was.  There were even times when the clouds of steam would completely hide the train from view, yet the cloud itself was proof that the train was there.  “Being caught up in the clouds” is an encouragement only if we believe there is something beyond them.  Even when the clouds of this human flesh obscure our vision and understanding of what heaven is really like, we can trust the promises of God that it is not only real but it is a place of complete peace in the presence of God.

I pray that you and I would continue to be thankful every day that God gives us life.  I pray that we would hold fast to the promises of God in such a way that we are encouraged by His faithfulness.  I pray that we would encourage one another as we trust God with everything that is beyond our vision.

In prayer,
Tom  

Giving Thanks — November 29
by

Giving Thanks — November 29

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.“ 
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

Today I am thankful for a family which derives its name and purpose from our heavenly Father.  I am thankful for the family of God that I have been adopted into, but am especially thankful for the godly immediate family that I am part of.  I am thankful that we continue to learn how to work together so that each part of the family benefits.  I am thankful for shared interests that give each of us joy as we search out the beauty of creation to photograph.  I am thankful for the power of God to help us endure the times of difficult health with the knowledge that God is with us in the midst of it.

I am thankful that I grew up in a family that did life together as it taught me much that I use even today.  Yes, we worked hard growing up on a farm but we worked hard together.  I also have very fond memories of the times we played together both on the farm and on family trips and vacations.  No, we didn’t always get along or even recognize what we had, but we were given no option but to endure and overcome whatever difficulties we faced — and especially the ones we created. 

I am thankful that I carry these lessons forward and have slowly learned over the years just how much my parents patiently endured as we did life together.  I am thankful that God gives us families where we can work on learning to value each part of His family.  I am thankful that my family is a reminder that we are never alone and that God will never leave or forsake us.

I pray that you and I would continue to become the family member God created us to be — both within our physical family and within the family of God.  I pray that we would know and experience the power of God as He fills us with the full measure of His Spirit.

In prayer,
Tom