A prayer composed from the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1 & 3, Philippians 1 & Colossians 1
O Lord, with praise and thanksgiving, I come before you - the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father - and I ask for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I can know you intimately. I ask, too, that you will illuminate the eyes of my heart so that I can know the hope to which you are calling me - the hope that is my glorious inheritance in the saints - and so that I can know the tremendous power that is available to me as a believer.
I ask also that from your store of glorious spiritual riches you will strengthen my inner man with power so that Christ can live in me by faith. I pray that I will have the superhuman ability, together with all the Christians who are rooted and established in love, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. I want to know that love by experience-the kind of love that surpasses knowledge - and I want this so I can be filled in all of my being with God himself. I realize, too, that there is a Spirit in me that is able to do beyond all I can ask or imagine. Lord, may that Spirit arise in me and bring glory to Jesus!
I pray that as I experience a fresh revelation of your love, Lord, that this love will mature in me and grow more and more in knowledge and wise insight. May I be able to recognize the highest and the best and to live blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.
Lord, in all of this, let me see things from your point of view, something I can do through the spiritual insight and understanding you have promised to give me. Above all, let my outer life bring credit to you and let me bring joy to your heart by bearing true Christian fruit.
I ask this in the wonderful and powerful name of Jesus and I thank you that no weapon formed against me or the fulfillment of this prayer will be successful.
Amen.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Profile of a Team
As July 20 -21 rolls around the corner, it is important to not only stay in a posture of prayer, but to team together as one cohesive unit to set the stage for the Holy Spirit to bring about salvation and awakening to every man attending.
As we begin to team together, here are some wisdom nuggets from unknown sources. As leaders, it is always helpful to do a self check as we "shamelessly recruit" and assemble our various teams -
Profile of a Team
• Works toward a common goal
• Develops its members’ skills
• Efficiently uses its time and talents
• Embraces the diversity of its members
• Is committed to continuous improvement
• Builds morale internally
• Performs effectively and produces results
• Accepts praise and criticism
• Cooperates rather than competes
• Maintains a positive attitude toward everyone’s ideas
• Stays on task
• Uses resources wisely
• Communicates openly
• Teaches and learns from one another
• Resolves conflicts effectively
• Welcomes challenges
• Shares pride in its accomplishments
• Celebrates successes
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
And keep in mind always: the Lord doesn't ask about your ability, only your availability; and, if you prove your dependability, the Lord will increase your capability.
As we begin to team together, here are some wisdom nuggets from unknown sources. As leaders, it is always helpful to do a self check as we "shamelessly recruit" and assemble our various teams -
Profile of a Team
• Works toward a common goal
• Develops its members’ skills
• Efficiently uses its time and talents
• Embraces the diversity of its members
• Is committed to continuous improvement
• Builds morale internally
• Performs effectively and produces results
• Accepts praise and criticism
• Cooperates rather than competes
• Maintains a positive attitude toward everyone’s ideas
• Stays on task
• Uses resources wisely
• Communicates openly
• Teaches and learns from one another
• Resolves conflicts effectively
• Welcomes challenges
• Shares pride in its accomplishments
• Celebrates successes
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
And keep in mind always: the Lord doesn't ask about your ability, only your availability; and, if you prove your dependability, the Lord will increase your capability.
THIS THURSDAY! Promise Keepers Leadership Meeting
I want to take this opportunity to share with you what an amazing job you are doing to prepare your teams for Promise Keepers Nashville 2007. Most of our teams are at or nearly approaching full recruitment.
Can you believe June is almost over? As of today, there are only 24 days until Promise Keepers Nashville 2007. I look forward to visiting with you about the many exciting new developments since our last meeting on June 14'th. Based on where we are by this Thursday, it is entirely possible that this could be our last meeting at Lee Company as a leadership team before we gather the night before the conference.
Please plan to join us this Thursday:
PROMISE KEEPERS LEADERSHIP MEETING
Thursday June 28, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 PM
THE LEE COMPANY
Training Room
331 Mallory Station Road, Franklin, TN 37067
Cool Springs area
MapQuest
Join us for an inspired time of worship and prayer, along with important volunteer information and briefing regarding your assignments, last minute leadership needs, and other issues as we prepare for the conference.
Be sure to bring a check for your leadership team golf shirts (if you want one). Orders are due to Ingram Howard this Thursday night.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Promise Keepers Nashville Volunteer Commissioning Service at The People's Church Thursday night July 19'th, 7 PM - 8:30 PM.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve with each and every one of you.
Grace & peace,
Tim Richards
Assistant Event Director & Volunteer Staff Representative
Promise Keepers Nashville 2007
Mobile (615) 319-7150 Home (615) 302-3606
E-mail at PKNashville2007@aol.com
Friday, June 22, 2007
Be a Man of Prayer!
Here is a great resource from the Promise Keepers website – As we round third base and head into the home stretch for the Promise Keepers conference, it is important to stay “prayed up”… Don’t lean on the Prayer Captain to do it for you or your pastor, or your wife –
Take the lead and have a simple conversation with God today… (and clear the clutter off your passenger seat of your car, so He can have a place to sit!)
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you!”
"I am a man of prayer." (Psalm 109:4)
In every great movement of God in history, two factors have been present:
1) God placed in the hearts of His people a hunger and thirst for Himself.
2) God poured out a spirit of prayer upon His people.
A movement of God has never come by man-made methods. You can’t promote or advertise a move of God. You can’t organize or manipulate a move of God. You can’t work it up you can only call it down. Revival is a sovereign, sudden, selective, and supernatural movement of the Spirit of the Living God. "Not my might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6).
We are in a battle! (Ephesians 6:10-12). And we have been chosen to be on the front lines of that battle. Prayer is the mightiest force in the universe, and our most powerful weapon to win great victories.
The church has always gone to battle on the knees of its prayer warriors, especially on the knees of its praying men.
• Praying men are God’s chosen leaders.
• Praying men always feel a need to be alone with God.
• Praying men have a desperation for God.
• Praying men have a longing, a hunger and a thirst for God.
• Praying men have an insatiable desire for the power of God.
• Praying men long to see the glory of God.
• Praying men are the productive workers for God.
• Praying men receive His direction to do work for His glory.
• Praying men are the energizing force in the church.
• Praying men are the determining element in revival.
• Praying men keep God’s Spirit full force in His church.
• Praying men pour into His church spiritual forces to protect her from materialism.
• Praying men win victories, rout the enemy, and defeat the foes of the Gospel.
• Praying men are the ones who attack "the gates of hell."
• Praying men are the ones who raise God’s banner in the very camp of the enemy.
• Praying men are fearless.
Take the lead and have a simple conversation with God today… (and clear the clutter off your passenger seat of your car, so He can have a place to sit!)
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you!”
"I am a man of prayer." (Psalm 109:4)
In every great movement of God in history, two factors have been present:
1) God placed in the hearts of His people a hunger and thirst for Himself.
2) God poured out a spirit of prayer upon His people.
A movement of God has never come by man-made methods. You can’t promote or advertise a move of God. You can’t organize or manipulate a move of God. You can’t work it up you can only call it down. Revival is a sovereign, sudden, selective, and supernatural movement of the Spirit of the Living God. "Not my might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6).
We are in a battle! (Ephesians 6:10-12). And we have been chosen to be on the front lines of that battle. Prayer is the mightiest force in the universe, and our most powerful weapon to win great victories.
The church has always gone to battle on the knees of its prayer warriors, especially on the knees of its praying men.
• Praying men are God’s chosen leaders.
• Praying men always feel a need to be alone with God.
• Praying men have a desperation for God.
• Praying men have a longing, a hunger and a thirst for God.
• Praying men have an insatiable desire for the power of God.
• Praying men long to see the glory of God.
• Praying men are the productive workers for God.
• Praying men receive His direction to do work for His glory.
• Praying men are the energizing force in the church.
• Praying men are the determining element in revival.
• Praying men keep God’s Spirit full force in His church.
• Praying men pour into His church spiritual forces to protect her from materialism.
• Praying men win victories, rout the enemy, and defeat the foes of the Gospel.
• Praying men are the ones who attack "the gates of hell."
• Praying men are the ones who raise God’s banner in the very camp of the enemy.
• Praying men are fearless.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Nashville Radio Spots now available!
Promise Keepers has created radio spots in the MP3 format that can be used in church services. Each is tagged with city-specific information. Click the link to listen or you can right-click and select 'Save Target As' to download the file.
There are varying formats in length - listen for them to appear in drive time and various talk, sports and Christian stations here in Middle Tennessee.
Photo credit overstated.net
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Earning an M.B.A.
Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy’s Restaurant chain, illustrates the learning value of humility in his book WELL DONE: THE COMMON GUY’S GUIDE TO EVERYDAY SUCCESS. He writes, "I got my MBA long before my G.E.D." He continues, "I even have a photograph of me in my MBA graduation outfit -- a snazzy knee-length work apron. I guarantee you that I'm the only founder among America's big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows him wielding a mop and a plastic bucket. That wasn't a gag" he continues. "It was a case of leading by example. At Wendy's, MBA does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude. It's how we define satisfying the customer through cleanliness, quality food, friendly service, and atmosphere."
Dave Thomas got his G.E.D back in the 1990's, having dropped out of school when he was 15 years old. But he got his M.B.A. when he was 11 years and was baptized and began his journey of following Jesus. He truly took on the role of a servant, even though he was a multi-million dollar executive of a fast-growing restaurant chain. He said that Christianity was more than just a doctrine you talked about on Sunday morning. In fact, his advice was: "Live your faith. Don't wear it on your sleeve; roll up both sleeves and do something about it."
Do you have an M.B.A.? Is your attitude like that of Jesus? Are you rolling up your sleeves and doing something about your faith?
"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas Bio (pdf)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Unselfish Side of Prayer
We spend a great deal of time in every planning meeting with prayer and a worship time -
Tonight, I was reading J. Oswald Sanders' book (and I quote) re:
Every man at the Nashville Promise Keepers conference (and we are expecting no less than a sold out event - in every sense of the word) will truly be the blessed ones as recipients of your collective intercession and volunteer efforts.
Think of all the changed lives; the families affected that will be set in motion July 20 -21... Do you recall the first time you went to a Promise Keepers event? Someone volunteered, someone prayed over the seat that you sat in... someone "shamelessly recruited" because they knew by faith the payoff of a changed life... make that call, send that eMail, shamelessly recruit to build your teams...
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 2Cor 9:12-14
Others, dear Lord, Yes, others,
This all my prayer shall be;
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like thee.
Blessings –
Kerry
Tonight, I was reading J. Oswald Sanders' book (and I quote) re:
A great portion of Paul's prayers dealt with intercession - the presentation of the personal needs of others at the throne of grace. This is the unselfish side of prayer. Paul was constantly praying for his converts and churches.
Intercession does not have in view the overcoming of the reluctance of God, but in the claiming of the mercies of Christ on behalf of others who are in a bad situation. The spiritual development of his flock was the lifeblood of Paul's experience, as we see in his prayers of intercession.
Others, dear Lord, Yes, others,
This all my prayer shall be;
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like thee.
It was the experience of Henry Martyn that during times of spiritual dryness and depression - and who doesn't have such experiences? - he often found "a delightful revival in the act of praying for others, for their conversion or sanctification, or prosperity in the work of the Lord."
Every man at the Nashville Promise Keepers conference (and we are expecting no less than a sold out event - in every sense of the word) will truly be the blessed ones as recipients of your collective intercession and volunteer efforts.
Think of all the changed lives; the families affected that will be set in motion July 20 -21... Do you recall the first time you went to a Promise Keepers event? Someone volunteered, someone prayed over the seat that you sat in... someone "shamelessly recruited" because they knew by faith the payoff of a changed life... make that call, send that eMail, shamelessly recruit to build your teams...
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 2Cor 9:12-14
Others, dear Lord, Yes, others,
This all my prayer shall be;
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like thee.
Blessings –
Kerry
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