Prayer Choices

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.   Philemon 1-7 (WEB)

I want to take today and really encourage us all to commit to prayer. Paul is a great example of what prayer is all about and what it can be in your life. Paul is so open and continuous about his prayers. Every letter has a prayer or two or three in it. There are prayers of blessings. There are prayers of encouragement. There are prayers of intense supplication. There are prayers of great joy and thanksgiving. Paul’s prayers often begin with an inner circle. He shares his own prayer for himself. Then people that he knows. The circle widens to the local church; then the whole Jewish community. The circle continues to widen.

Some may be able to do committed, focused prayer by just making up their mind to do so. I need visual aids. There are some wonderful options or ways to do personal prayer time. There are books written on the various ways that people do their prayer time. Recently I have been reading some of Philip Yancey’s works and he shared some ideas that he has come upon. Three days a week he prays for family and friends. On alternate three days he prays for ministries and countries or more global concerns. And on the seventh day, he focusing only on himself, specifically asking God to examine him and teach him. He is quick to say that God has interrupted his plan, saying, “Oh, no, Philip, we are going to discuss you today!” Mr. Yancey also shared using note cards with prayer needs written on cards that he has used especially when his life has gone through very busy times. The cards helped him get quiet and focus. I have used a 3-ring binder to write requests and leave space for the answers to the prayers!

Some people use music as a vehicle to center and focus. Some use ‘prayer chairs’ or ‘prayer rooms/closets’. Almost every person I have ever personally talked with about prayer have said that they came to that ‘breakthrough’ when they committed to a time with God and allowed very little to usurp that time.

Most ‘good habits’ do not come easily but instead come with a repetition of choice. Establishing a prayer habit builds prayer muscles. A quick scan on any given day to an online news service is enough to prove the need for prayer!

This weekend I am going to ask God to speak to my heart about His plan for my prayer life. I thank Him that He wants to meet with me. God wants to teach me and speak to me. He is waiting for me to make the time and make the choice.

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Time to Trust

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:5-8 (WEB)
Yesterday was, on the surface, a really tough day for me. The voices of the world were definitely LOUD, CLANGING CYMBALS! I can take a fair amount of pressure but within an hour, I was in my office with the door closed, in tears. I went to my Lord and cried out to Him. I needed Him! Ten minutes later, I had the peace and the courage back to open the door and face the day.
Too often in the past, I have attempted to figure out the situation on my own. I have made lists. I have tossed and turned in my bed instead of sleeping. I have read books. Researched the internet. Now, all of these things are not bad ideas. I just didn’t go to God first! When I turn to God first, my mind and my spirit calm and become more clear to receive the plan that God has. He may speak through a book or internet or my quiet mind that allows His voice to be heard!!!
The psalmist shows me, once again, the importance of my relationship with God. With a daily walk with Jesus, I expect Him to have the answers; have the plan. That assurance comes when I know very well the One to whom I am relying. I have a ‘track record’ with Him. I have the testimony of a ‘cloud of witnesses’. (Many of you are in that crowd!) I trust Him.
Think of some of the many scenarios where you have seen people rise above their circumstance and walk with a quiet assurance. I have walk the halls of a cancer wing where children are connected to medications and parents are sitting beside their bed unable to take the pain or suffering from their child. Do they have questions like “Why?” Of course. I have seen so many extraordinary people after Hurricane Ivan came through my home town. The many that are still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Hurricane Ike in Galveston, TX. What is the factor that can be identified in those who keep going and reach out to others even in their own ‘poverty’? It is faith in God. Do they have questions like “Why?” Of course. Having questions does not mean a lack of faith? It does not indicate a lack of trust. If Jesus can question the Father’s plan in Gethsemane and cry out His reminder that the Father not to leave Him from the cross – I can too!

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love – Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.

“Trust and Obey” by John Sammis, 1987 (public domain)

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Posted on July 8, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

I Hate Snakes!

Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’”   Genesis 3:1  (WEB, my emphasis)

A friend shared a recent snake adventure with me by email. I can’t imagine that I have not vigorously shared with her how much I HATE snakes but her story ‘snake killing’ story was an acceptable one to me because … the snakes dies! Now for all you ‘circle of life’ and reptile lovers out there who do not share my view of snakes, I want to say that I am aware of their function in the food chain but that does not diminish my negative view of them one wit!

The first time I read through the Bible I was very gratified to learn that God had chosen to give satan the physical body of a snake in my first introduction to him in Genesis. I thought it a rather appropriate type-casting myself! And God promises there that the serpent will be crushed. (Genesis 3:14-15) As I read on and found that a snake on a stick was an icon of healing in Numbers 21 after God used venomous snakes to bite and kill the disobedient Israelites, I turned the pages quickly and tried not to dwell on that story.

For a time in my spiritual life I gave too much time thinking about how much I hated subtle, slimy serpent known as satan. I gave him far too much credit for what I saw in the world instead of acknowledging that we allow the consequences through our own poor choices. I truly allowed my hate to have more ‘air’ time than the love that was in me and in my life. Jesus said that all the power that He had been given was passed on to me to make disciples. (Matthew 28) He also said that whatever I bound on earth would be bound in heaven. The snake bound up and laid out so I can run over it with my spiritual tank! And run over it again, again, again, again, and AGAIN! How do I run over the snake?

I sing praise to my Lord! I raise my hands and dance for joy about what the Lord has done for me every day! I am kind to someone. I have compassion for someone. I choose to focus on Jesus and take time in my day to just sit at His feet and listen…quietly. I know you can think of some other ways that kick, toss, and generally give satan a nasty black eye!

1 Corinthians 10 says we do not wage war with weapons like guns and knives. We are in a spiritual war. There is no ‘neutral’ option. You can either follow Jesus and survive battles, win battles, and be on the promised victorious team – or you can be a part of the collateral damage. There is no staying out of the fray! Satan wants us under his feet! When we choose Jesus and follow Him – it is satan who is under our feet!!!

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death. Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.”    Revelation 12:10-12    (WEB)

First – I overcome anything satan thinks he can do because I am the child of the King and I testify about what Jesus has done in my life even to the point of dying with joy because that only brings me eternal life! Second, the devil is really angry and he doesn’t have much time. OK. Then let’s turn our backs on him and kick some dust in his face for as long as he has left!

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Love

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.      1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (WEB)

This is one of those passages (and the rest of the 13th chapter) that is good for me to read in an unfamiliar translation. In the NIV, I have read these verses so many times that I do not take the words in and allow them to saturate me and soak me with their truth and wisdom…with their love.

It is the love part that I so often glide through in search of some meat when it is love that is the power and core of God Himself! It is love that brought Jesus up from His knees in Gethsemane and

set his path unswervingly to Golgotha. It is love that kicks satan and his buddies every time they bring selfishness, bitterness, unforgiveness, and pride and we choose compassion, joy, gentleness, and humility instead.

When was the last time you read 1 Corinthians 13 or Song of Songs? How about John 17 where Jesus intercedes for us? It is love that is in every letter and period. From Genesis to Revelation we are shown the many facets of God’s love. Even in the discipline and consequences there is love, the perfect love of a Father for His child. And as His disciple, I am to follow this love; be an ambassador of His love. I am not to store that love for some rainy day. I am not to just soak it up and lock it inside myself. It is to flow through me, untainted by me. I am just a conduit of God’s love to others who do not truly know Him or are too scared to meet Him. It is His unconditional and extravagant love that will ‘woo’ them to come closer to ‘taste and see that God is good’! (Psalm 34:8)

Take time today to soak in God’s love. Read the following verses and then go spill them on someone!

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 (WEB, my emphasis)

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Intercessory Prayer

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

“I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” John 17:9 (WEB)

I  have had two conversations recently that has given me some new perspective to intercessory prayer.

Bringing someone to the Lord in prayer is intercessory prayer. To be honest, I always thought that intercessory prayer was about me pointing out something that God had overlooked in someone and then attempt to talk Him into my idea! Crazy,huh?

Reading through John 17 I am struck by the love and compassion of Jesus. THAT is intercessory prayer! It is allowing God to give me His vision for that person. It is allowing God to change my heart for His heart and pray for the person in Jesus’ love. Bringing someone into God’s presence changes my attitude toward them. It will affect my relationship with them. I am changed into seeing that person as God sees them. I also learn how God sees me. I see the unique gifts and unique flaws that ultimately create the tapestry that is in God’s image.

There are principles of God that I know to be true as I pray. I know that God desires a living, growing, intimate relationship with each of His children. I know that He wants His children to be spiritually strong to resist temptation and not be lead into evil. God wants His children to reach out to others and serve them.

Praying for others also gives me a glimpse into how God must feel as He looks at us and wants so much ‘good’ for us and yet does not impose His will into our lives. Our God who could chooses instead to honor our freedom to choose. And as I pray I see changes that may need to happen. But as most parents realize their limitations in coercing a child into a path, so in prayer I learn to pray and let go, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead the person in God’s perfect path.

Ever intercessory prayer begins with God who was there in the situation before I even knew there was a situation! Every intercessory prayer ends with God who never tires or grows weary (Isaiah 40:28-31) and will see the person and/or situation until the end. As my husband, Henry, says:

“God answers our prayers better than we pray them!”

God will answer in His time and in His perfect way. It is a joy to pray no matter what the circumstances when I pray in the assurance of God’s love and mercy.

“I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.

Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people?

Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.

Don’t fear, neither be afraid.
Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it?
You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me?
Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”      Isaiah 44:6-8 (WEB)
As we come to the Lord in prayer, may we always have our feet on the Rock and cry out to our God, who is the First and the Last. Amen.
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July 4th : Taste and see that God is Good!

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.    Psalm 34:8 (WEB)
We are coming up on one of my favorite holidays – July 4th! Like most holidays it involves great food and family. What more could you want? FIREWORKS!!! I am a watcher of fireworks. I will be checking the TV listings to make sure I watch every firework display that is presented. I like seeing them in person but this year I will be at home watching on TV.
July 4th is a time that we remember the joy and victory of our freedoms. We recite portions of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution like beautiful pieces of poetry. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Kennedy Inaugural Address bring tears to the eyes that only truly inspired works can do. It is a feast for the spirit as we share a gastronomic feast among family and friends.
I hope as we celebrate we also remember our Lord who was there every step of the way. As we celebrate may we also raise our voices in thanksgiving for our Lord who did not leave us on the battlefields nor sleep while we debated and voted our way through 44 presidents and thousands of laws. As we sit around the table and share wonderful memories of picnics passed, may we also share stories of how our Lord fed us when we could not feed ourselves. It is not about preaching or arguing to win a point – it is about telling our story, “Look what the Lord has done!”
Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous works that he has done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.     Psalm 78:1-8 (WEB)
On July 6th what will you remember about the holiday weekend? Will you be able to know that you shared a piece of your heart as you told the story of how Jesus helped you through the week? Will you dismiss the question because you did not want to offend someone? Will that hold up as you look at Jesus and explain that the truth is – you were ashamed of Him. Will He be ashamed of you? Will He bless you with the rest of one who has “done well, good and faithful servant!”? I pray that it is so – for you and me. God bless America! See you back here on Monday!
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Take a Step

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

I have been thinking about how Jesus leads me a step at a time. He shows me or shows my husband a vision of the goal or mission but He does not give us the whole plan. He does not give me, personally more than one step at a time. If Jesus is giving Henry more than one step, He is also telling him to keep them under wraps!

I believe Jesus only gives me one step because He knows me. He knows that if He gave me several steps I would try to tweak them – just to give it a little more efficiency or improve it a bit! SO – Jesus wisely tells me only one step!

Since I only know one step, Jesus is building my trust level, isn’t He? I do not know what is around the bend on this journey I am on so I trust Jesus to bring me through whatever mountain or moat I am about to encounter. I know that nothing takes Him by surprise so Jesus knows the route I need to take through this obstacle. I may not know all these events but I do know how the story is going to end.

The one step journey also increases my prayer life as I want to build my spiritual muscles for the journey at hand. Any concerns (that’s another word for worry), questions, even fears, I take to Jesus to sift through the emotions and bring the truth to my mind. Conversations with Jesus happen at any time, day or night, and bring me to the place where I am ready for the next step.

Do I step with joy? Do I step with thanksgiving? Is my step firm or tentative? Do I march like a soldier or do I drag my feet? Ouch.

Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:129-133 (WEB)

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Put Your Hand in His Hand

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Henry Neufeld

Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.  Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.  By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves.   A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.   When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.  At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”  Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.  But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.  Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”  When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.   The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” Matthew 14:22-33 (CEV)

I’ve heard preachers and teachers use this story many times over the years, and normally they make a point that Peter must have turned his eyes away from Jesus and thus been overwhelmed and begun to sink.  But as I was re-reading the passage recently, I notice that it doesn’t mention anything at all that Peter did in order to start doubting other than that he saw the wind and was afraid.

As I read it this time I pictured Peter, battered by the wind, with the waves pouring over him, beginning to think that he couldn’t possibly stay on top of the water.  And as he apparently was sinking, he cried out.

Was it because Peter is sinking or because he cries out in fear that Jesus calls him “little faith”?  I suspect it was because he didn’t trust Jesus to get him through the waves.  I don’t think Jesus lost control of Peter’s situation for even a moment.  To Peter, and to the apostles in the boat, it may have seemed that Peter was sinking.  But Jesus was faithful to what he had told Peter he could do.

When we step out of our boat to walk where Jesus has told us to walk, do we need to be afraid?  If we are following the command of Jesus, we can know that HE will be faithful, no matter what problems we may have.  We may feel that the wind and the waves are too great.  But they are not too great for Him.  We may feel that we are sinking, that all hope is lost, that we must have taken a wrong step.  But regardless of where we’re looking or what we’re doing, He is still there.  And even if he says, “Oh you with little faith” Jesus nonetheless stretches his hand out and leads us through to safety.

Remember:  In everything we do, Jesus is still there and he is still faithful.  AND Jesus reaches out his hand to us.

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Touch

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”     Mark 8:22-23 (NIV, my emphasis)

My pastor spoke about ‘touching’ yesterday. He used Mark’s passage that described Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the bleeding disease. (Chapter 5) As he often does, my pastor made me think.

In this passage from Chapter 8, a group brought a man to Jesus who was probably their friend and was blind. They had heard about Jesus and thought that maybe the rumors of miracles might be true! “Let’s take our friend, Jimmy, to this guy Jesus. Maybe he can do something!” They want Jesus – no they begged Jesus – to touch their friend. Just touch him. And Jesus does. Not exactly in the way they thought He would!

When I cry out to Jesus and ask Him to touch me – I do not expect Him to spit on me! Why did He do that? I have no idea. What I do know is that Jesus, more often than not, will make me come out of my comfort zone to meet with Him! Maybe Jesus is building my faith and trust level?! Maybe Jesus is asking me to trust that He does know what He is doing!

Jesus brings me out and away from the crowd and meets with me. Jesus touches me in the way that will get my attention. Jesus wants to heal what needs to be healed in me, not what I may think or present to Him to be healed. Jesus wants the best for me.

Do I see myself being healed? Too often my inner child tries to tell me that I am not worthy to be healed. I’m not. But I am loved. I am loved by Jesus and that is the beginning and the end of it. I am healed because of love. That is something to soak in.

Jesus was about touch. He touched lepers, the dead, Gentiles, children, and all who would come. His peers and society may consider Him “wrong” or “crazy” – but He did not live for them! These were His hurting children and He wanted them to know His healing love.

Touch is not just about physical touch. It is about investing in another person. Jesus showed me by His example that every person that comes across the path He has given me is important. I have an opportunity to touch someone every day. I have the opportunity to be touched by Him every day. Both are essential to my life.

Reach out and touch and be touched.

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Who has the Authority in Your Life?

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, that the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”

He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:1-8 (WEB)

This has been a week of great news. Yesterday was the second day this week that I received great healing news! A young man, just before graduating from high school this spring was diagnosed with cancer and began chemo. The scans this week show his tumors has shrunk more than 50% – much more than the physicians expected! YEA, GOD!

It would be easy to tell both these stories and give the credit to the treatments that each of these men received. It would not be honest to do that. It would also not be honest if I did not say that they did receive medical care. In my mind, as a nurse and a Christian, God is the reason for these victories! If God did not have His hand on these people, it would not matter what medication they received. It is God’s strength and His wisdom and creation that brought us medically to this point.

The leaders in the Scripture did not want to acknowledge Jesus as God. They were given the facts and had seen Jesus in action and yet did not want to publicly point to Him as the source. They made a choice to take the safe path to maintain the status quo.

There is not a day in my life that does not have the hand of God in it. I could explain away the events with the safe, usual explanations but I would be a liar. Every day, God acknowledges His love for me in so many ways, big and small.

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