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Encouragement and Prayer: Return With a Whole Heart! (7/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Return With a Whole Heart! (7/6/23)

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This is the audio from the July 6, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we, and those around us, would return to Him whenever we stray.  One of the greatest promises of God is that there is always a way home from wherever we are.

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider if there are areas of your life in which you need to return to God.  Pray that you would accurately examine how much of your heart you have surrendered to God.  Pray that you would realize the heart God has given you is one that was created to seek after Him with a whole heart.

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: Return With Joy! (7/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Return With Joy! (7/5/23)

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This is the audio from the July 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we, and those around us, would return to Him whenever we stray.  One of the greatest promises of God is that there is always a way home from wherever we are.

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider if there are areas of your life in which you need to return to God.  Pray that God would give you a glimpse beyond your current sorrow to see the joy that comes in His  harvest.  Pray for a heart that goes out to people as you plant the seeds of the gospel through all that you say and do.

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: Return To Find Compassion! (7/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Return To Find Compassion! (7/4/23)

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This is the audio from the July 4, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we, and those around us, would return to Him whenever we stray.  One of the greatest promises of God is that there is always a way home from wherever we are.

“If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate.”
2 Chronicles 30:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider if there are areas of your life in which you need to return to God.  Pray that God’s compassion would be evident to others in the way He treats you.  Pray that you would have compassion for others because of the compassion God has for you.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Called By God: Repent NOW! (Sermon Audio)
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Called By God: Repent NOW! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 2, 2023 sermon, “Called By God: Repent NOW”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Amos 5:4-6, 14-15

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  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 3:8-9 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series which is based from the Old Testament book of Amos.  If you’re wondering how applicable the message from this book of the Bible can be today, consider the following description of the world in the days of Amos.  See if this sounds familiar at all to the world we currently live in.

“A spirit of self-sufficiency and smug complacency thrived on material prosperity.  The rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.  Idolatry, hypocrisy, moral corruption, and social injustices were everywhere.  The nation was truly on the brink of disaster.”  (Irving Jensen)

The story of Amos is not only about God calling ordinary people to do extraordinary things, it is also about God calling His people to return . . . to come home.  The way of returning always requires that we change direction in what the Bible calls repentance.  When God’s Word convicts us and calls for repentance, the best response is to repent . . .

  • Noticeably:

    • Repentance may be about changing our mind, and it may well begin in the mind, but true and godly repentance will always involve a noticeable change.  It can be easy to go about the motions that give a casual observer the impression you desire, but real change stand up to the scrutiny of examination.  When we turn, or return, toward God in repentance, He begins a work in us that should be visible in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

  • Obediently: —

    • Rather than being about judgment or condemnation, the repentance God calls us to is a restoration of obedience.  The change of direction we choose to make becomes led by our desire to obey God’s Word as we look to Him for help in doing so.  Our attitude and desires change so that our obedience is not done out of compulsion, but rather out of love.  When we turn, or return, toward God in repentance, He creates both the desire and ability within us for a life of obedience.

  • Worshipfully: —

    • One result of our responding to God’s call for repentance ought to be an increase in our offering of worship to Him.  It is through repentance that we allow God to examine us fully and purify our heart and mind so our worship flows freely from a life devoted to Him.  Rather than allowing our sin to distance us from God, repentance invites God in to clean up our mess so that nothing would hinder our worship.  When we turn, or return, to God in repentance, He creates within us a clean heart which can worship Him fully.

Today, will you hear God’s call and repent NOW?

Encouragement and Prayer: Return In Obedience! (7/3/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Return In Obedience! (7/3/23)

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This is the audio from the July 3, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we, and those around us, would return to Him whenever we stray.  One of the greatest promises of God is that there is always a way home from wherever we are.  As you pray this week, consider if there are areas of your life in which you need to return to God.  Pray for those you know, perhaps even yourself, who are distant from God and need to know they can return.  Pray that your life would reflect the openness of God to those who are looking for a way home.  Pray that you would know how to return to God so that you would be able to help lead others back to Him also.  Pray for a  heart of compassion that accepts those returning to God with the same joy that He has.  Pray for a growing unity among believers as we each pursue greater obedience to God and love for one another.

“When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.”
Deuteronomy 4:30 (NIV)

Pray for the humility needed to repent of any disobedience as you return to God fully.  Pray for discernment to know a way home when the troubles you face are the result of straying away from 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: Plant To Please the Spirit! (6/30/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Plant To Please the Spirit! (6/30/23)

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This is the audio from the June 30, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
Proverbs 11:18 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some things we ought to be sowing in our life and in the lives of others.  Growing up on a farm, I spent many winter evenings going through the various seed catalogs deciding what I would like to harvest the next summer.  Even as a child it didn’t take long to realize that if I wanted a specific harvest I would have to sow a specific seed.  Likewise, the harvest that is produced as we go through this life, and beyond, is related to what we do with the seed which has been planted within us and what kind of seeds we are sowing each day that we live.

“The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine how the seed of His Word is growing in your life.  Pray that you would be ever mindful of God’s Spirit within you as you choose what to sow in this life.  Pray that your desire would always be to sow the things that please the Spirit as you look toward the harvest of eternal life.

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: Plant What You Want to Harvest! (6/29/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Plant What You Want to Harvest! (6/29/23)

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This is the audio from the June 29, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
Proverbs 11:18 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some things we ought to be sowing in our life and in the lives of others.  Growing up on a farm, I spent many winter evenings going through the various seed catalogs deciding what I would like to harvest the next summer.  Even as a child it didn’t take long to realize that if I wanted a specific harvest I would have to sow a specific seed.  Likewise, the harvest that is produced as we go through this life, and beyond, is related to what we do with the seed which has been planted within us and what kind of seeds we are sowing each day that we live.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Galatians 6:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine how the seed of His Word is growing in your life.  Pray that you would consider the outcome God desires for you in this life so that you would sow accordingly.  Pray that God would help you accurately evaluate what you are currently reaping in order to consider if you need to change what you are sowing.

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: Plant What Is Supplied! (6/28/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Plant What Is Supplied! (6/28/23)

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This is the audio from the June 28, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
Proverbs 11:18 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some things we ought to be sowing in our life and in the lives of others.  Growing up on a farm, I spent many winter evenings going through the various seed catalogs deciding what I would like to harvest the next summer.  Even as a child it didn’t take long to realize that if I wanted a specific harvest I would have to sow a specific seed.  Likewise, the harvest that is produced as we go through this life, and beyond, is related to what we do with the seed which has been planted within us and what kind of seeds we are sowing each day that we live.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine how the seed of His Word is growing in your life.  Pray that you would always look to God as the One who supplies, and increases, the seed which you sow.  Pray that you would be faithful in using what God has supplied as He multiplies His righteousness in your life for your benefit and for the benefit of others.

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

In prayer,
Tom