Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful With Sacrificial Offerings! (2/12/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful With Sacrificial Offerings! (2/12/23)

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This is the audio from the February 12, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on growing in gratitude as we learn to give thanks to God in all circumstances.  Our level of thankfulness will say a lot to the people around us who need to know of the hope that is found in Jesus.  And I might add, the genuineness or lack thereof of our thankfulness will be noticed by many who are watching.  We all go through struggles that test our faith, and we may endure things that no one would be thankful for, but it can be in those times that finding ways to give thanks anyway can speak volumes to others.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of thankfulness.  Pray that you would always look for reasons to give thanks and that you would learn to give thanks even when the reasons seem hidden.  Pray that your faith would grow as you daily practice an attitude of gratitude in your relationships with one another and with God.  Pray that you would find ways to express your thanks in meaningful ways to those who need to hear it.

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.”
Psalm 50:14 (NIV)

Pray that the offering of yourself and your possessions to God would be done with a thankful heart.  Pray that God would direct all of your giving so that it is done with thankfulness.  Pray that your promises to God would be fulfilled as you give sacrificially as an avenue of thankfulness.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Immeasurably More Gratitude: GIVE Thanks! (Sermon Audio)
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Immeasurably More Gratitude: GIVE Thanks! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 11, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More Gratitude: GIVE Thanks!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

This morning’s message continued a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  So far we have looked at the immeasurably more that God wants to do in our prayer life, in the way we love, in our serving, in our giving, and in compassion.  Today we gazed into God’s Word to consider the immeasurably more gratitude that ought to be present in our life because of Jesus.  Being a more thankful person in a world filled with disappointments and discouragement can be difficult.  It is only through God’s Spirit that we find the ability to give thanks when our natural response to a situation may not be thankful at all.  As we choose to grow with immeasurably more gratitude, we do so with . . .

  • Generous Thanks: — Colossians 3:12, Colossians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:15

    • As Paul gives instructions about being more thankful, He does so in the context of God’s generous nature toward each one of us.  When we clothe ourselves with the things of God’s Spirit, we are able to see others as the valuable creation of God which they are.  Being generous with out thanks comes from an attitude which looks for the good of Christ in others.  We grow in gratitude when we learn to be generous with the thanks we offer to God and to one another.

  • Intentional Thanks: — Colossians 3:13-14, 1 Timothy 2:1, Ephesians 5:20

    • Because we live in a world of imperfect people, ourselves included, we must learn to be intentional about living with gratitude.  Our need to forgive and be forgiven can become a hindrance to being thankful unless we are willing to acknowledge just how much God has forgiven us so that we would be deliberate in looking for ways to thank others.  We grow in gratitude when we learn to be intentional with the thanks we offer to God and to one another.

  • Vertical Thanks: — Colossians 3:15, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 9:15

    • The strength or weakness of our relationship with God will have a lot to do with how we interact with others.  When we first give ourselves fully to God, we find that His Spirit leads us to value the things He values.  When we teach and admonish one another, and sing praises to God, we find a gratitude that is growing in us through His Spirit.  We grow in gratitude when we learn to put God first in our vertical thanks to Him.

  • Expressive Thanks: — Colossians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 9:12

    • Just as we tend to give and receive expressions of love in a variety of ways, our expressions of thanks ought to be offered in ways which benefit the one we are thanking.  When it comes to thanking God, scripture tells us that everything we do ought to be done with an attitude of gratitude.  The same is true at a different level in how we thank one another.  Our many expressions of thanks ought to done in a way that builds up the body of Christ and makes Him known.  We grow in gratitude when we learn to be expressive with our thanks in whatever we do.

Today, how will you GIVE thanks?

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion For the Harassed and Helpless! (2/9/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion For the Harassed and Helpless! (2/9/23)

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This is the audio from the February 9, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would pay attention to the “crowds” and notice when their actions are the result of being harassed and helpless.  Pray that your compassion would cause you to suffer together with those being harassed as you help them find the Good Shepherd.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion With Justice and Mercy! (2/8/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion With Justice and Mercy! (2/8/23)

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This is the audio from the February 8, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’”
Zechariah 7:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that your willingness to suffer with those who suffer would lead you to seek true justice for those who have been wronged.  Pray that this same compassion that seeks justice would be filled with great mercy.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Restores! (2/7/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Restores! (2/7/23)

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This is the audio from the February 7, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.”
Isaiah 54:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would know the compassion of God that restores you to Himself.  Pray that you would deepen your compassion in order to restore those whom you may have abandoned.  Pray for a greater desire to see people restored to God.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Brings Life! (2/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Brings Life! (2/6/23)

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This is the audio from the February 6, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.”
Psalm 119:77 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would allow God’s compassion come to you in a way that brings life.  Pray that your delight in God’s law would lead you to show compassion to others in a way that leads them to the life God offers.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion To Forgive! (2/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion To Forgive! (2/5/23)

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This is the audio from the February 5, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.  As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would have the courage to suffer with them — not for the purpose of having a pity party, but in order to find the avenues of comfort that are needed..

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”
Psalm 51:1 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with a greater understanding of the ‘suffering with us” that was required in order for God to forgive our sins.  Pray that your love for God and people would fill you with the compassion necessary to forgive.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Immeasurably More Compassion: A Time To CARE! (Sermon Audio)
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Immeasurably More Compassion: A Time To CARE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 4, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More Compassion: A Time To CARE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 3:8-17

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This morning’s message continued a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  So far we have looked at the immeasurably more that God wants to do in our prayer life, in the way we love, in our serving, and in our giving.  Today we gazed into God’s Word to consider the immeasurably more compassion He has toward us and that He desire for us to have toward others.  Compassion is one of those traits that we are often more comfortable in receiving than giving.  We want someone who is willing to suffer with us — not in the sense of a pity party, but in a way that provides companionship and help.  Not only did Jesus join in the suffering of individuals as He walked this earth, He joined in our suffering as He went to the cross to become payment for our sins.  We reflect the immeasurably more compassion of God when we choose now as a time to . . .

  • Comfort: — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we model the actions of Jesus who entered into this world as “God with us”.  As a people who deserved to be condemned, we should find comfort in a God who came to save.  It is through this comfort that we receive from Christ that we not only are told to comfort others, but we are given the ability to do so.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we find ourselves equipped by God’s Spirit to be instruments of His comfort.

  • Appreciate: — Romans 15:7

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we find the importance of accepting one another in ways that show appreciation and value.  To accept others just as Christ has accepted us doesn’t mean we ignore or overlook sin, but rather we value people for who they are as one created in the image of God and we desire to see the work of God transform each person into the fullness of that image.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we learn to appreciate the people around us in ways that lets them know the great value they have.

  • Restore: — Galatians 6:1-2

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we understand the need for each of us to be restored in every way possible.  God warns us to be careful in this process so that we don’t get caught up in the sins of others, but the reward of seeing a person restored to Christ and to the fellowship of believers is a great thing.  The compassion to restore isn’t an us versus them thing as we all sin and need to experience the full restoration that only God can accomplish.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we live as those who have been restored to restore others.

  • Embrace: — Luke 15:20

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we find ways to embrace one another in a manner that brings healing.  The culmination of our learning to be with others in ways that comfort, appreciate, and restore will be an embrace of belonging whether that takes place in the form of a physical hug or something that gives the same result.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we find ways to embrace them with the love of God that never fails.

Today, how will the compassion God calls you to lead you to CARE?