Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To the Day! (09/01/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To the Day! (09/01/22)

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This is the audio from the September 1, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14
(NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.

“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray that your actions would express to others that you belong to the day because you have put aside the deeds of darkness.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who is self-controlled.

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: Belonging To the Lord! (08/31/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To the Lord! (08/31/22)

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This is the audio from the August 31, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14
(NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Romans 14:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray that your life would be lived for the Lord in all that you do.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who belongs to the Lord.  Pray for the wisdom to help other see how they can belong to the Lord.

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: Belonging To One Another! (08/30/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To One Another! (08/30/22)

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This is the audio from the August 30, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14
(NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.

“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray that you would live as a valuable part of the body of Christ as you belong to one another.  Pray that you would value others as a member of the body you are a part of.  Pray for the humility needed to practice this reciprocal belonging to one another.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Place For ME! (Sermon Audio)

A Place For ME! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 28, 2022 sermon, “A Place For Everyone Is A Place For ME!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 20 & 21, Ephesians 4:1-13

I suspect that every person has times when it feels like everyone belongs except them.  After Israel had the courage to claim God’s promises and all the promised land had been divided among the tribes, there was still the matter of having the courage to make a place for everyone.  As God’s children, and as His church, we are called to live with the courage to proclaim that there exists a place for everyone in God’s kingdom.  That place is for . . .

  • Mercy.  Joshua 20:1-5, Ephesians 4:1-6
    • As Joshua continued following God’s instructions in providing a place in the promised land for everyone, he made certain that mercy would be shown to those who needed it.  We have a place to belong in God’s kingdom because of His mercy extended to us.  It’s because of God’s great mercy that we ought to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice.  It is also our awareness of God’s mercy that calls us to extend mercy to others.  Mercy received and mercy given are key elements that are foundational to making every effort when it comes to pursuing unity through making peace with God and with one another.  We help help create a place for everyone when we establish our life as a place for mercy.
  • Encouragement/Equipping.  Joshua 21:43-45, Ephesians 4:11-13
    • As God made sure there was a place for everyone in the promised land, He allotted various towns and pasture lands to those who would be His representatives to the people — the priests and Levites.  While those who would be these special servants of God had no territory of land given to them as a tribe of Israel, God Himself was to be there inheritance, He gave them places to live throughout each of the territories of Israel.  God wanted those who would speak on His behalf to be available to everyone so that each person could be encouraged and equipped by God.  As God’s children, we are called a royal priesthood and He as placed each of us in the midst of communities that need the presence of God to be visible.  We help create a place for everyone when we establish our life as a place of encouraging and equipping.

Today, will you live as one who knows God’s kingdom is for ME?

Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To Jesus! (08/29/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To Jesus! (08/29/22)

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This is the audio from the August 29, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14
(NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.  As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray about how you view others, especially those who are different from you in some way, and ask God to help you value the way He has made them.  Pray that God would use you to help others know that they too belong.  Pray that the church gathering you participate in would always be a place where all who approach God in spirit and in truth can belong.

“And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”
Romans 1:6 (NIV)

Pray that you would recognize the value you have as one who has been called to belong to Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who belongs to Christ.  Pray for the courage to help others have a desire to belong to Jesus.

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: Promised Deliverance! (08/26/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Deliverance! (08/26/22)

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This is the audio from the August 26, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.

“May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:170 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would always turn to God as the one who can meet your needs “according to His riches in glory.”  Pray that you would fully consider how God has delivered you as you share His promises of deliverance to the people around you.

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: Promised Comfort! (08/25/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Comfort! (08/25/22)

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This is the audio from the August 25, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”
Psalm 119:76 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that a recognition of God’s unfailing love would comfort you in your times of greatest pain.  Pray that you would always seek God to be your comfort.  Pray that you would be obedient in comforting others with the comfort God has given you according to His promises.

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: Promised Graciousness! (08/24/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Graciousness! (08/24/22)

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This is the audio from the August 24, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.

“I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:58 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would know the graciousness of God as you seek Him with a whole heart.  Pray with thanksgiving for the many ways God extends His grace to you.  Pray that you would learn to be gracious with others as you realize how much you experience the graciousness of God’s promises to you.

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

In prayer,
Tom