2014 Prayer Challenge coming soon!

"A major reason for weak prayer lives is a neglect of God’s Word." ---Unknown
The more consistently you feed on God's Word the deeper and more effective your prayer life becomes.

Share the 'simply prayer' 2014 Prayer Challenge with your friends. Invite them to join us July 15th - August 14th right here on the 'simply prayer" blog through the Facebook "simly prayer' event page at :   https://www.facebook.com/events/1514611048758225/
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We will be learning to pray through God's Word as we deepen our relationship with Him.


Just go to the event page and let us know your are attending. 

Are you doing it right?

When you pray, do you ever wonder if you’re “doing it right”?

As you read through the Bible, do certain passages inspire you to pray, give thanks, and worship God?

Do you ever feel that you cannot pray in public because your words are not eloquent, like the pastor and other leaders in the church?

Do you feel you are not good enough to pray to God?

Do you feel your prayers lack power?

Maybe you are thinking, "What if I do not get the answer I want when I pray?"

Most Christians either are or have been at one time intimidated by the word prayer.  Much like those first words when you want to ask someone out for that first date, begging a relationship with God can seem awkward, especially if you are not sure how to talk to Him.  

The 2nd Annual 'simply prayer' 30 day prayer challenge starting July 15th is the opportunity to break the ice (so-to-speak) and join me and others in praying through the Bible, one day at a time.  

Through the course of the 30-day challenge, we will begin to build a relationship with God, increase spiritual growth, and experience the power of praying His Word.

“For the word of God is living and active. . . .” Hebrews 4:12 NIV

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV

Hidden Treasure

God's Word is a hidden treasure within our hearts. 

Have you seen the movie, Second Hand Lions.  They two elder men have treasure (money) hidden from everyone.  When they need money, they go to the hidden treasure of theirs and take out (make a withdrawal) of what then need.  

God's word is the same for us.  By keeping His Word in our hearts we have access to it at all times.  This is why it is important to read, meditate, and memorize passages daily.  

If you were told today that you have cancer, would you want to know God's Word and will on the subject?  If it is already in your heart, you can have peace and comfort in knowing what to do based on the Word of God, rather than have to go find out first because you did not know what God says.  

1 Peter 2:24 (emphasis in red is mine)

Many people ask me how I can handle the medical issues in my life the past few years.  Many say that maybe my faith is not working.  

I have peace and comfort in knowing that my God has already provided health for me in the death and resurrection of Christ, and that healing is mine.  My faith is working, it has kept me alive.  I thank God daily because of the faith He has given me, and His word has developed.    His Word is within me, therefore, all I have to do is believe.

The Fire Has No Power - Part 4

"There are certain Jews whom you have appointed and set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."  Daniel 3:12

Setting the stage for those who missed parts 1-3 of The Fire Has No Power:  King Nebuchadnezzar build a large, beautiful golden statue, and he placed it in a prominent area of Babylon.  

Upon completion of the statue, he commanded that all the leaders of Babylon to dedicate the golden image.  When they were all gathered he commanded of each leader to listen for the sound of the instruments and music.  Upon hearing these, they were to bow down and worship the golden image.

These leaders were not given the freedom to choose to worship the image, they were commanded to obey the decree of the King, or suffer the consequences, death by the fiery furnace.  

Verse 12 of Daniel 3 points out that there were CERTAIN Jews who did not serve King Nebuchadnezzar.  

The word certain causes me to think that they were not the only Jews in the crowd.  Rather, they were the only three who stood on their trust in God.  They had faith in their God and Him alone.  

The case, brought to King Nebuchadnezzar's attention by 'men of Chaldean descent' was presented to the King in a manner that brought shame to him, "These men, O king, pay no attention to you".

In the eastern world, bringing shame to someone brings shame to his family too.  It is important in eastern customs to have honor.  The phrase 'paying no attention to you' brought shame on the face of the king.  

Hence, the consequence of those who disobeyed the command was death by fiery furnace.  

In America, we have been blessed to have freedom to choose whom we worship.  While there are many political strategies out there to hinder this freedom, at this time we still have the freedom to follow Christ openly.  

We do not, though, have the freedom to disobey the laws of the land where they do not interfere with our Christianity.  The laws of the land are put in place by authorities in which we are to obey.  

I have lived in countries in which this freedom does not exist.  The people are not even free to leave their hometown without government approval.  The control over the people is strong even in the little things in life.  Every building, whether apartment, villa, or hut is watched and the people cannot go in or out without their proper papers.  

The three Jews in Daniel Chapter 3 were very brave in the eyes of most.  There trust was fully in their God.  They knew He would protect them and keep them safe.  They were obeying Him in a matter in which the government and the Word of God conflicted.  

They were not going to worship any other God than their own God.  They knew this was a sin in the eyes of God, a lack of obedience to the highest power in their lives.  Therefore, rather than bow, they stood.  It appears that there may have been other Jews in the crowd who were not as obedient, placing their trust in God rather than the situation set before them.

To be continued....

Helps

Many think that being a missionary in a foreign  country means living at a poverty level, and teaching and preaching to the poor.

This is not true.  My main ministry overseas, is within the ministry of helps.  I have always had the ability to do whatever I set my hands to do.  In Asia, I have been in many various roles as a missionary.  My favorite role so far is being staff photographer and videographer.  

Yes, I am called to Asia, and I am happy to fulfill whatever role He places me into.  Lately that seems to be moving me into a ministry towards Children and Youth by creating materials for local pastors to use and implement within their own churches.  This provides them with the ability to grow their own churches with their own native pastors and leaders.  

Being a missionary does not mean being in the limelight.  It takes many, many people to spread the Gospel message in countries like Asia.  They may be support teams back home (financial, prayer, administrative supporters), and they may be those He sends to help with my present role in country.  

The Fire Has No Power - Part 3

And whoever does not fall down and worship shall that very hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Dan 3:6-7)

Therefore at that time certain men of Chaldean descent came near and brought [malicious] accusations against the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image, And that whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.   (Dan 3:8-11)

Can you imagine?  You are commanded to attend a ceremony... one that you do not agree with.  Your freedom to choose is stripped from you.  Once at the ceremony, you are told you will participate or die.  What do you do?  

Most of us live in countries with the freedom to choose what we believe.  We are free to be followers of Christ, Christians.  With that choice, how many times have we chosen to follow the crowd rather than what we believe.  Why?

The answer is within this experiment by "Primetime"  

     We gathered a group of people together for a test of "visual perception." The actual test was simple -- to mentally rotate some 3-D shapes and compare them to see whether they were the same or different.
      First, the volunteers wrote down their answers to 10 questions privately. But then they had to give the next series of answers out loud for everyone to hear.
     But this test came with a twist. One of the participants, Jocelyn, was in on the experiment, with the answers in her hand. Everyone else had been told to follow her lead, except for one participant, Tony. He's the only person in the room not in the know. He was being set up to see whether he would follow the pack.
     When the group gave the right answer, Tony agreed. And when everyone gave the wrong answer -- Tony still agreed.
     Unwittingly, Tony had demonstrated Berns' point precisely. The group's influence on Tony profoundly altered the results: He went from 90 percent on his written test to 10 percent when he heard the others' answers.
     "You know, five people are seeing it and I'm not. … I just went along with the answers," Tony said.
     Tony wasn't alone. "Primetime" put seven other unsuspecting test subjects on the hot seat. Barbara, for example, got 70 percent on the written test, but her score fell to 30 percent when she listened to others' answers.
     "I think I tend to do that, doubt myself when everyone else has their own opinion," Barbara said.
     David and Graham, unlike the others, gave the right answers, even when the group didn't.
     "I wanted to go with what I felt was the correct answer, and trust myself, and that's what I did," Graham said.  

You can read more about the experiment at  http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Health/story?id=1495038 .

We tend to follow the crowd, often out of concern of what the people around us think.  In the bible verses above, the three Jews did not follow the crowd.  They were firm in their beliefs and trusted God and their decision to follow Him. 

To make the choices that choose life rather than death (spiritually speaking - Deut. 30:19)  we must KNOW what we are putting our trust in...

"And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free".   Jn 8:32

If you were called to a challenge of your Christianity, would you be able to walk out of the fire?  

Do you know your God well enough to know to stand and trust Him?

Daily Do!

Chuck Swindoll wrote, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified" (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

After reading the above passage, I am inclined to reexamine my own reading and scripture memorization habits.  Since the strokes, I have allowed doubt of my short-term memory skills to creep in.  And, as a result, decreasing the time I spend meditating on the Word of God.  

Of course, I have trusted that it is within me.  I have studied and meditated upon His Word for a good many years.  However, lately I stick more to reading, and I allow my focus to skip around rather than truly meditate on His Word.  

We all manage to get busy and let go of this task.  Why?  It's all about perspective...how we think.  

For example:  I have a choice today.  I have a busy schedule.  It's so busy, I have no idea how I am getting it all done today.  I have so much that it will keep my schedule in fast gear all week, and probably next week too.  Obviously, I must choose and prioritize what I am going to do.  So I start checking off items that must be done each day till I have finished all the work.  Each day, I work, and work, and do not schedule eating, because there just is not enough time to stop and either go get meals at restaurants, or cook and eat the meals.  

One can only do this for soooo long, by the middle of the week, I notice that I am getting week and dizzy, and unable to focus and work effectively.  By day five and six, I just don't have any energy to complete a productive day of work.  What went wrong?  We were designed to need food for our bodies.  When we go without it, we become sickly and weak.  Eventually, if we do not stop and eat we will die.  

The same is true with us spiritually.  We must feed our spirit man the Word of God and spend time in prayer with Him.  The Word of God is the food that feeds our spirits, keeping us strong and healthy.  

Today, make a decision, to eat spiritually healthy meals not only daily but throughout the day to keep our spirit at it's optimal health.

The Tug Home

Working within my calling
is where I find His anointing!

     A missionary on furlough tends to be more of a fish out of water during the brief stay in their home country.  Missionaries work hard to fully immerse themselves into the culture and the people they serve,  striving to fit in and not be the "foreigner".  

     After years of working to accomplish this task, there comes a time when the missionary must return on furlough to rest, and most likely gain various support.  Returning is a culture shock all of its own, and it can be a difficult task to meld back into their own culture for the short time in their home country. 

     I have experienced this first hand this past six weeks while back in the USA.  It is difficult to explain, because as all missionaries, I love my family and friends in my home country.  Yet, the calling within me tugs on my heart reminding me to get 'home' on the mission field quickly.

Lessons from a Two Year Old - Part 1

A two year old?  What can I learn from a toddler?  

Have you observed a two year old at play?  At sleep?  At meal time?  When they are hungry or tired?  When spending time with mom or dad?

When my son was a toddler, the slightest thing would catch his attention and excite him.  In his eyes, many of the things we see everyday were new.  Even things like an airplane flying over head, the rain coming down, a ladybug on a flower petal, the ripples in a puddle would catch his attention and excite him.  He had seen these things before, but each time he saw them or heard them, he would yell mommy, and with big huge eyes tell me all about it.  

To most adults, we do not notice a plane flying overhead unless it is falling out of the sky or on fire.  A rain storm can hardly be called newsworthy material unless lightening struck someone's home or a tornado hit and destroyed the area.  We are usually too busy to notice a ladybug sitting on a flower petal, and we walk right past it.

When is the last time you read the Bible, and the Words jumped off the page at you as if you have never read them before?  Does the Word of God still excite you as it did in the early, younger days of your Christianity?  

Lesson #1 from a two-year old:  Read the Word with a newness, an excitement, expecting something from it when you read it.  God's Word is alive, and applies to us today.  What is your mind set?  Is it, "Ugh.  I've read this passage many times before, and I know that story."  Or, is it, "What new insight, or revelation, is God going to share with me today?"

 

The Fire Has No Power - Part 2

 "NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE king [caused to be] made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits or ninety feet and its breadth six cubits or nine feet. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
 
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, the governors, the judges and chief stargazers, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had [caused to be] set up.
 
Then the satraps, the deputies, the governors, the judges and chief stargazers, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces were gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.


Then the herald cried aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 

That when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
 
And whoever does not fall down and worship shall that very hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."  Daniel 3:1-6

What fire are you presented with in your life today?  

Is it a broken marriage, an illness or disease, financial debt, addiction,...????  If this is you, you are not alone.  God did not promise us that we would not go through life's fires in our lives as believers.  He did tell us that we would overcome them and be victorious if we trust him and run the race to completion. 

Daniel Chapter 3 shares with us three men, leaders within the kingdom, who were put in the fire and what happened when they placed their trust in God.  

Notice that God did not call these three men into the fire.  He was the one that helped them through it.  God does not create the problems in our lives.  He is the answer to them.  How do I know this?  

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."  

What does trust in God bring?  "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6


To be continued ...

Culture Shock

When a missionary goes into the mission field, culture shock is expected.  They enter a completely and sometimes literally shocking new culture... a whole new way to live, think, act, feel, speak, and so much more.  This is expected regardless how much a missionary prepares for the field. 

When I entered missions full-time, I knew this was how I wanted to spend the remainder of my life.  Therefore, I was happy to immerse myself in my new culture.  I learned the ways of the people of the land. I am still learning the language.  There were many new experiences the books and research did not tell me about before I arrived.  

I enjoy learning new things, and I do not mind being the only one at a table not able to understand a word of what is said.  Just the presence of being with the people made me happy until I could learn enough to understand.  They became like a family.  

Although it was not missions, my first experience with living overseas was Mainz, Germany back in fall of 1988 to Christmas 1991.  I remember being in the country two weeks, and had only met one person.  We lived downtown in Mainz above a little alterations shop ran by a local German family who owned the building. My husband had to leave for a month of training, and all I had was a lot of change he left behind to ride the buses and learn the city.  So that is what me and my 1 year old toddler, at the time, did.  

Everyday I took different buses that stopped not far from our little apartment.  They all eventually circle back around, I just needed to remember the name of the stop and a landmark to recognize the bus stop ahead of time.  

During this time, I met a few other American women riding the buses.  They gave me tours and tips to the local shopping areas and restaurants, and a few of us became very good friends during our stay in Germany.  When it came time to leave Germany, I honestly did not want to go.  I would have been happy at the time to stay and live there.

This experience prepared me, not for the culture of the mission field in which I work, but rather how to be flexible and quickly adjust to my new culture.  I have to say that, I really enjoy where I live and work.  I love the people and their culture. 

Missionary Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about life as a missionary, life on the mission field, and life back in our home country when on furlough or returning permanently from the field.

One of these misconceptions being about the sacrifices missionaries make to go and stay on the mission field.  (Of course, these are based on my experience and the experience I know of missionary friends.)

Most missionaries from the USA, have lived in and left a comfortable home with all the modern conveniences.  They are use to owning private vehicles for transportation, and running to the grocery store or department stores on a whim when in need of something.  Most are use to a life-style that is fast, due to modern-technology delayed gratification is a thing of the past.  

On the mission field, I do sometimes miss the beautiful house with all the space, central air and heat, the modern appliances, and fast internet on all my electronic devices.  But, these are not the things I, and most missionaries, sacrificed. 

It is the people, family, we leave behind that we, as missionaries, sacrifice.  In my case, it was my adult children and grand-daughter.  It was also the close friends that I had build relationships like family with over the years. 

You may wonder, why?  In a day and age when Skype and other devices make things seem so close, why would I miss them?  Why would I consider it a sacrifice?  

While I share all those moments over the internet, it is not the same as being with them during their triumphs, their achievements, those special moments, and even when they hit a hard patch in life.  Not being there is the true sacrifice of the missionary, and the sacrifice their families left behind make also.  

Keep your missionary, or the missionaries your church supports in constant prayer.  You may even build a relationship with them through various means of partnership in which they offer to you.  

Squeeze a sponge. What comes out? (The Fire Has No Power - Part 1)

Overflow:  to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits

Imagine a sponge soaked so much in water that when you touch it, it oozes water.  That is overflow.  

What overflows in your lives when you are squeezed?  Do you overflow in the love of Christ?  Or, do you overflow from the problems of your daily life?

How do you overflow in Christ, when every turn you take seems to present another problem that keeps your undivided attention, and seems to drag you down?

The answer is simple, but applying the answer everyday in our lives rarely seems simple or easy.  What is the answer?

Trust in God.  Daniel 3 shows us what happens when we trust God, and I will go over this chapter in the next several posts.  Today, I want to share with you how to trust God.

It can be difficult to trust someone you do not know, especially if you do not know why you should trust them, or if they have your best interest at heart.  Trusting someone is more than making acquaintances or even casual friends. 

Trusting someone requires a level of intimacy, much like the trust a husband and wife have in a marriage.  

How do you get to know God?  He has given us the bible.  Through the bible we can learn His likes, His dislikes, his will, what pleases Him, what He expects of us, and what we should expect of Him.  

Sounds simple, doesn't it?  Yet, every time we sit down to read and spend time with God, the phone rings, the kids need attention, we remember something we forgot to do, and so on and so on.  We fill up with the problems in our lives rather than the Word of God.  Then, when situations arise we are panicking and in damage control mode.

Whereas, when we determine to make a regular routine of spending time with God in His Word, we fill up with more of Him until we overflow God's Word, God's character, God's love in every situation in which we are squeezed.

The next time you are squeezed, what will overflow?  

"This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." Joshua 1:8 AMP

The Fire

Daniel 3:27,28
 The fire has no power!  Our situations (the fire) has no power over us, when we trust and worship our God, Our Father.  We cannot be burned.  We do not even have the smell of the fire on us when we walk out of it!

Tent Making

Saturday.....I had decided that today would be a quiet day.  One of my favorite hobbies, drawing beckoned my attention.  Drawing is soothing and relaxing to me, so this is a great rest day activity.  What started as doodles though, evolved into another watercolor painted tile, and four greeting cards.  

I usually draw in my sketchbook (right now, I draw in my huge 300 page Big Sketchbook because I tired of filling and purchasing normal sized sketchbooks).  However, I had been drawing and painting flowers this week for the 100 ceramic tiles that I am working on completing to raise money for missions work.

LOL...Paul had tent making, I have art making.  It's a gift that has helped in times when finances were needed. 

Return 2014

     I am in the USA right now for medical reasons and raising support.  This is more difficult for a missionary than the long 24/7 hours of the mission field.  Why?
     A missionaries heart is with the people they are called to work.  The nation they called to spread the Gospel.  And, a missionary can be a bit like a fish out of water when they are not with the people they are called.  They have made the culture of the people their culture, the land of the people their land, and have worked very hard to not be the "foreigner" in among them.