goals

Encouragement and Prayer: A New Cry! (2/14/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Cry! (2/14/25)

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This is the audio from the February 14, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’”
Zechariah 8:19 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on growing in the practice of prayer and fasting.  While there are many who believe fasting is simply an Old Testament practice, we find Jesus giving new instruction about prayer and fasting as He teaches in what we call the Sermon On the Mount.  God’s desire is that our practice of prayer and fasting brings us closer to Him in ways that He is made more visible rather than us.  Pray that you would practice humility in all spiritual disciplines as you desire relationship with God over the showmanship of the world.  Pray that fasting, or any spiritual discipline, would be a joy rather than a burden as you deepen your desire for the things of God.  Pray that your growing relationship with Jesus would lead to a greater love of truth and peace.

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.  Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”
Joel 1:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the role fasting should have in your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would cry out to God as you ask others to join you in seeking Him.  Pray that you would know the sacredness of coming together with others in fasting to cry out to God.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: A New Serving! (2/13/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Serving! (2/13/25)

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This is the audio from the February 13, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’”
Zechariah 8:19 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on growing in the practice of prayer and fasting.  While there are many who believe fasting is simply an Old Testament practice, we find Jesus giving new instruction about prayer and fasting as He teaches in what we call the Sermon On the Mount.  God’s desire is that our practice of prayer and fasting brings us closer to Him in ways that He is made more visible rather than us.  Pray that you would practice humility in all spiritual disciplines as you desire relationship with God over the showmanship of the world.  Pray that fasting, or any spiritual discipline, would be a joy rather than a burden as you deepen your desire for the things of God.  Pray that your growing relationship with Jesus would lead to a greater love of truth and peace.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the role fasting should have in your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would regularly spend time of “going without” for the purpose of serving others.  Pray that you would always seek God’s purpose to be accomplished through the fasting you do.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: A New Mourning! (2/12/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Mourning! (2/12/25)

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This is the audio from the February 12, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’”
Zechariah 8:19 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on growing in the practice of prayer and fasting.  While there are many who believe fasting is simply an Old Testament practice, we find Jesus giving new instruction about prayer and fasting as He teaches in what we call the Sermon On the Mount.  God’s desire is that our practice of prayer and fasting brings us closer to Him in ways that He is made more visible rather than us.  Pray that you would practice humility in all spiritual disciplines as you desire relationship with God over the showmanship of the world.  Pray that fasting, or any spiritual discipline, would be a joy rather than a burden as you deepen your desire for the things of God.  Pray that your growing relationship with Jesus would lead to a greater love of truth and peace.

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the role fasting should have in your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would be serious about going to God in times of sorrow and heartache.  Pray for the patience to wait before God when life is filled with loss.  Pray that your times of mourning and fasting would prepare you to hear God.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: A New Humility! (2/11/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Humility! (2/11/25)

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This is the audio from the February 11, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’”
Zechariah 8:19 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on growing in the practice of prayer and fasting.  While there are many who believe fasting is simply an Old Testament practice, we find Jesus giving new instruction about prayer and fasting as He teaches in what we call the Sermon On the Mount.  God’s desire is that our practice of prayer and fasting brings us closer to Him in ways that He is made more visible rather than us.  Pray that you would practice humility in all spiritual disciplines as you desire relationship with God over the showmanship of the world.  Pray that fasting, or any spiritual discipline, would be a joy rather than a burden as you deepen your desire for the things of God.  Pray that your growing relationship with Jesus would lead to a greater love of truth and peace.

“There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”
Ezra 8:21 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the role fasting should have in your relationship with Him.  Pray that your seeking of God would be done in humility.  Ask God to help you know the value of fasting in seeking His help and direction.  Pray that your requests of God would always be made with reverence.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: A New Listening! (2/10/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Listening! (2/10/25)

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This is the audio from the February 10, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’”
Zechariah 8:19 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on growing in the practice of prayer and fasting.  While there are many who believe fasting is simply an Old Testament practice, we find Jesus giving new instruction about prayer and fasting as He teaches in what we call the Sermon On the Mount.  God’s desire is that our practice of prayer and fasting brings us closer to Him in ways that He is made more visible rather than us.  Pray that you would practice humility in all spiritual disciplines as you desire relationship with God over the showmanship of the world.  Pray that fasting, or any spiritual discipline, would be a joy rather than a burden as you deepen your desire for the things of God.  Pray that your growing relationship with Jesus would lead to a greater love of truth and peace.

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.”
2 Chronicles 20:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the role fasting should have in your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would join with others in listening to God when the circumstances of life alarm you.  Pray that God would help you to know how fasting with purpose can lead to a greater listening to Him.  Pray for wisdom in asking others to join you in fasting.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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

Following Jesus – Looking At the NEW! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – Looking At the NEW! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 9, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Looking At the NEW!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 6

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  As Jesus sat down on the mountainside to teach His followers, including us, He takes teaching from God’s Word and makes it sound new.  As we look at what He teaches which is new, we find that He shares with us about taking a new look at the . . .

  • Needy:  Matthew 6:1-4

    • As we are called to look at the needy, God wants us to have a new direction in that the focus is on helping people rather than on making a name for our self.  While not really a new concept, it is a new approach compared to the way the people had seen the needy being used for the benefit of others looking good rather than actually being helped.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we must look at the needy with the eyes of Christ which seek to lift them rather than exploit them. 

  • Eternal:  Matthew 6:5-18

    • As we are called to look at the eternal, God wants us to examine the spiritual practices of prayer and fasting that were meant to help us grow in relationship with Him.  Prayer and fasting were normal activities in the lives of those who would have gathered around Jesus but for many the practices had simply become religious routines rather than eternal relationship.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we must look at the eternal as something we desire with enough intensity that we are willing to be real in our conversations with God and at times choose to go without some things of this world in order to pursue God more deliberately.

  • Wealth:  Matthew 6:19-34

    • As we are called to look at the wealth, God wants us to see Him and His kingdom as that which is valuable above all else.  Sometimes this requires a change in our practices, and sometimes it requires a change in our motivations.  Do we really seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, or are we more worried about our self.  When we take this new look at wealth, we discover the worry of tomorrow has no place in disrupting today.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we recognize our relationship with the living God fills us with a greater wealth than any of the riches of this world could ever bring.

Today, how will you care for the NEW?

Encouragement and Prayer: Beyond Revenge! (2/7/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Beyond Revenge! (2/7/25)

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This is the audio from the February 7, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:20 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on gazing into God’s Word to discover how His heart ought to define the way we apply that which we have heard.  God’s desire is that we know Him in a way that surpasses the legalistic righteousness of those who know the letter of the law without understanding its intent.  Applying that which you have heard is only useful if you understand what the One speaking meant.  Pray that you would grow in knowing how God’s laws are meant to help us know Him.  Pray for a compassionate response to people as they learn to apply God’s Word in their life.  Pray for wisdom in overcoming the entanglements of sin before they grow into an overwhelming destructive force in your life.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’“
Matthew 5:38 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray not only for ears which hear the Word of God, but also for a heart which seeks His help in understanding and doing His will.  Pray that you would see beyond the desire for revenge as you choose to consider the needs of others to be more important than your own.  Pray that you would find joy in letting God deal with those who do evil and seek to harm you.  Pray for a growing spirit of generosity to replace the desire for revenge.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: Beyond Promises! (2/6/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Beyond Promises! (2/6/25)

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This is the audio from the February 6, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:20 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on gazing into God’s Word to discover how His heart ought to define the way we apply that which we have heard.  God’s desire is that we know Him in a way that surpasses the legalistic righteousness of those who know the letter of the law without understanding its intent.  Applying that which you have heard is only useful if you understand what the One speaking meant.  Pray that you would grow in knowing how God’s laws are meant to help us know Him.  Pray for a compassionate response to people as they learn to apply God’s Word in their life.  Pray for wisdom in overcoming the entanglements of sin before they grow into an overwhelming destructive force in your life.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’“
Matthew 5:33 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray not only for ears which hear the Word of God, but also for a heart which seeks His help in understanding and doing His will.  Pray that you would see beyond the distinctions of oaths so that you would know the value of keeping your word at all times.  Pray that you would give careful thought to your words so that your actions are consistent with what you say.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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