Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Surrender! (12/26/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Surrender! (12/26/25)

This is the audio from the December 26, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday upon us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize that you have been with Jesus.  Pray that the gift of Jesus is not just something you receive, but that you would be active in sharing that gift through the way you love others.  Pray that God would fill you with a generous spirit as you make known the gift of Jesus.

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33 (NIV)

As you pray this week, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally expected.  Pray that you would surrender everything to the Lordship of Jesus.  Pray that you would have a greater understanding of both the cost and reward of being a disciple of Jesus.  Ask God to help you see your surrender to Him as a gift both from Him and to Him.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Uniqueness! (12/25/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Uniqueness! (12/25/25)

This is the audio from the December 25, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday upon us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize that you have been with Jesus.  Pray that the gift of Jesus is not just something you receive, but that you would be active in sharing that gift through the way you love others.  Pray that God would fill you with a generous spirit as you make known the gift of Jesus.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally expected.  Pray that Jesus would always be the only one you look to for your salvation.  Pray that the people around you would come to know Jesus as the only way to be saved.  Ask God to help you proclaim the uniqueness of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Salvation! (12/24/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Salvation! (12/24/25)

This is the audio from the December 24, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday upon us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize that you have been with Jesus.  Pray that the gift of Jesus is not just something you receive, but that you would be active in sharing that gift through the way you love others.  Pray that God would fill you with a generous spirit as you make known the gift of Jesus.

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally expected.  Pray that you would always value the salvation you receive through Jesus Christ.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s desire for them to be saved.  Ask God to help you share the promise of God’s salvation with those who have not yet been saved.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Energy! (12/23/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Energy! (12/23/25)

This is the audio from the December 23, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday upon us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize that you have been with Jesus.  Pray that the gift of Jesus is not just something you receive, but that you would be active in sharing that gift through the way you love others.  Pray that God would fill you with a generous spirit as you make known the gift of Jesus.

“To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

As you pray this week, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally expected.  Pray that you would be faithful in doing the good works God has created for you to do as you use the energy of Jesus within you.  Pray that you would trust the power of God to work within you to accomplish what you cannot.  Ask God to help His energy to be made known through you.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Joy! (12/22/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: The Gift of Joy! (12/22/25)

This is the audio from the December 22, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday upon us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize that you have been with Jesus.  Pray that the gift of Jesus is not just something you receive, but that you would be active in sharing that gift through the way you love others.  Pray that God would fill you with a generous spirit as you make known the gift of Jesus.

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
John 17:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally expected.  Pray that you would experience and share true joy because of the gift of Jesus in your life.  Pray that the people around you would see the joy of Christ in you.  Ask God to help you be more expressive of the joy experienced through Christ.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Exceedingly Great Joy: Knowing the GIFT! (Sermon Audio)
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Exceedingly Great Joy: Knowing the GIFT! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 21, 2025 sermon, “Exceedingly Great Joy: Knowing the GIFT!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Philippians 3:12-4:1

 

“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

Today, we continue a sermon series through Philippians about Exceedingly Great Joy and we consider how to live with an enduring joy!  Even as a prisoner himself, Paul knew the secret to the exceedingly great joy expressed by the Magi and he sought to instruct the Philippians, and us, about how to shine with a confident joy that endures all things through a prayerful and humble spirit.  When we live a life pursuing Jesus, we find joy in knowing the . . .

  • Goal:  Philippians 3:12-14, Matthew 1:21-23

    • Knowing the gift of Jesus begins with knowing the goal of His life on earth.  When we press on toward the goal of eternity with God, we do so because the goal of Christmas was Jesus coming to earth to save His people from their sins . . . sins which we commit and which separate us from God.  The gift of Jesus is that He accomplished His goal which makes our goal possible. 

  • Insight:  Philippians 3:15-16, Luke 1:34-35

    • Knowing the gift of Jesus will lead us to an insight into His eternal nature as we trust Him in the midst of our own uncertainty and confusion.  The insight we receive from God is not generally a complete knowledge about anything, but rather it leads us to a greater trust and faith in a God who knows what He is doing.

  • Fear:  Philippians 3:17-19, Luke 1:29-33

    • Knowing the gift of Jesus involves a recognition of fear that motivates us to continually pursue a path of godly wisdom and practice.  When we truly understand the depth of separation that exists between us and God absent a forgiveness of our sin, we begin to allow that fear to turn us toward the solution which is only found in Jesus.

  • Truth:  Philippians 3:20-4:1, Luke 2:16-20

    • Knowing the gift of Jesus will always be based in truth.  We share the good news of Jesus, or choose not to, based on how absolute we believe Him to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  This gift of Jesus ought to be so meaningful to us that we feel compelled to share the joy He brings into our life.

Today, how will you know the GIFT of joy?

Encouragement and Prayer: Confidence In the Lord’s Help! (12/19/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Confidence In the Lord’s Help! (12/19/25)

This is the audio from the December 19, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with exceedingly great joy which gives you a confidence that does not fail.  I suspect that at one time or another most of us have put our confidence in something that has disappointed or failed us.  God does not want us to live in fear and doubt, but to live with a confidence that is well placed because it comes from a trust in Him.  Yes, it may be easier to put our confidence in ourselves or in things we can control, but doing so will always leave us feeling empty and disappointed.  Putting our confidence fully in God will always require faith, but it is a faith that will be rewarded with His blessing of an abiding joy.  Pray that you would recognize your need to put your confidence in God above all else.  Pray that you would be sure of your place in God’s kingdom, not because you’re so good but because God is so good.  Pray that you would be able to live with confidence more fully each day as you allow God to increase your faith and trust in Him.

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?’”
Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see just what, or who, it is that you tend to put your confidence in.  Pray that your confidence in the Lord’s help would be greater than your fear of what people might do or say.  Pray that the Lord’s help would give you the confidence to overcome fear that is caused by those who oppose God.  Pray that you would be an instrument of God’s help so that others would experience it more fully.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Confidence That Is Rewarded! (12/18/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Confidence That Is Rewarded! (12/18/25)

This is the audio from the December 18, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with exceedingly great joy which gives you a confidence that does not fail.  I suspect that at one time or another most of us have put our confidence in something that has disappointed or failed us.  God does not want us to live in fear and doubt, but to live with a confidence that is well placed because it comes from a trust in Him.  Yes, it may be easier to put our confidence in ourselves or in things we can control, but doing so will always leave us feeling empty and disappointed.  Putting our confidence fully in God will always require faith, but it is a faith that will be rewarded with His blessing of an abiding joy.  Pray that you would recognize your need to put your confidence in God above all else.  Pray that you would be sure of your place in God’s kingdom, not because you’re so good but because God is so good.  Pray that you would be able to live with confidence more fully each day as you allow God to increase your faith and trust in Him.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
Hebrews 10:35 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see just what, or who, it is that you tend to put your confidence in.  Pray that you would have a confidence in the work of God that cannot be taken away.  Pray that you would hold fast to the confidence you have in Christ as you await your eternal reward.  Pray that you would share with others about the importance of holding on to a confident faith.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom