“I’ll Pray for you…” Really?

May 24, 2013

If we tell people we will pray for them, does that mean we must pray for them every single time we pray or just at certain times? How long are we to pray for someone if we told them we would pray for them?

Paul wrote to Philemon, “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers…” (Philemon 1:4). Notice that Paul did not say, ”I thank my God when I always remember you in my prayers.” So Paul didn’t always remember to pray for Philemon.

Whew.

When someone requests prayer from me, I do one or a combination of these:

* Instead of telling them “I’ll be praying for you,” I pray for them right then and there. Or I get alone and pray for them immediately after our conversation ends.

* If on the phone, I pray for them while on the phone or as soon as I hang up.

* If it’s an e-mail, I pray for them immediately upon reading the e-mail. Or, I pray through the e-mail.

* If they have an ongoing issue that needs intercession, I might write their name on a sticky note and put it where I’ll see it every day until I feel released from praying for the issue.

* Or, I share that when I think of them in the days to come I will pray for them (This is honest. And the person will appreciate the honesty.)

How about you? How else do you remember to pray for people?

In Faith, Leadership , , ,
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How to go to bed satisfied

May 17, 2013 — 2 Comments

Do you ever feel that you aren’t spending enough time on what truly matters for your life and eternity? Or at best you find yourself doing a lot of good things but not enough of the best things? Been there. And still tend to drift there at times. So a few years ago I asked myself these questions: “What’s my perfect day? What’s a day in my life look like where I can be confident that I’ve accomplished what truly, personally, and eternally matters?” *

How about you?

Upon asking myself these questions, I took some time and prayerfully worked on a life vision statement, my top goals for a “perfect day,” and big picture “wins” of my work week. These combined assured that I would accomplish what most mattered for eternity, my family, Grace Community Church, my health, and my personal/spiritual growth.

Granted, I don’t always live out the perfect day or week. In fact, many days if I can only accomplish just the top two or four goals (out of eight), I’ll take it! But I never settle. Either way, at least I know what I’m aiming at, or better yet, what I believe the Holy Spirit has me aiming at. As an example, here’s how I hope to spend at least 6 hours of a 16 hour waking, “perfect day.”

1. 30 minutes Exercise (4 – 6 days out of the week)

2. 1 – 1.5 hours Devo time in Scripture & Prayer with the Lord

3. 30 minutes “porch time” with Christie 

4. 30 minutes- 1 hr play/quaility time with my kids

5. 1 hour alone with each kid once per week.

6. 1 hour teaching prep or writing in some form/fashion

7. 1 hour mentoring/investment in one person/masses (conversation, blog, tweet/FB post)

8. 30 minutes – 1 hour listening/reading for spiritual and/or personal growth.

* Once per week family devotion & devotion w/ Christie

What’s your perfect day look like? Prayerfully write it out and review it daily. Live it out the best you can. Then you’ll go to bed satisfied that your day counted for what truly matters.

* I got this idea from Michael Hyatt. I highly recommend his blog. Check him out HERE.

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Bring Marni’s best friend HOME!

May 9, 2013 — 5 Comments

 

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“Jarrod and Christie, I never do this. But would you please find Masha [aka Naomi] a home. The orphanage workers say she is the most precious little girl. But due to her features and health, she will never be adopted. Please find her a home.” – Our facilitator in Ukraine

That was nine months ago. Those were the final words of our facilitator in Ukraine after we adopted Jubilee and Marni. I promised her we would find Masha a home.

See the top picture above. See the girl that Marni is hugging? The little girl with the crossed eye? That’s Masha. She’s crying because Marni is leaving.

Now brace yourself for this one. The other little girls in the next picture had been like family to each other all their short lives. One is not pictured because she was adopted a year before we adopted Marni. The little girls in that picture above have now all been adopted and have a mommy and daddy. Except Masha. 

Masha remains in an orphanage with mostly older kids in a very poor region of Ukraine. I am horrified by the loneliness that she must feel, and potentially what she’s experiencing.Tears come to my eyes as I write this.

In October 2012, after arriving back home in America with Marni and Jubilee, I resumed my pastoring and preaching duties. Following a sermon, a couple came to me at the front of the stage, weeping. The lady said, “I know that God is calling us to adopt.” I said, “Okay, do you know who?” She said, “I have no idea.” To which I said, “I do. I know exactly who you are supposed to adopt. Her name is Masha.”

Since that moment, the New family has been on a mission to get Masha and bring her home. She is already loved and called “daughter” by the New family. They are now in the final stages of paperwork. Their home study is complete, dossiers being finalized, and they should be able to adopt Masha at the end of the summer. However, there’s one major obstacle for the New family to overcome to bring Masha home at all, or sooner rather than later: Financial support.

I’ll tell you from experience that this adoption is not cheap. It is a tremendous financial sacrifice to adopt, not to mention medically caring for and parenting Masha once they arrive home. The New family needs financial help to adopt Masha. They are currently doing all they personally can to raise funds. With help from family and friends, they are doing yard sales, raffles, parties, on-line auctions, and so forth.

Andy and Cynthia New are part of the Grace Community Church family. Christie and I have gotten to know them a bit over these last few months. We have been impressed with their story, their passion, their fight for Masha, and their resolve to bring her home.

On their behalf, I come to you Grace family. And I come to you my friends and family from abroad. Will you prayerfully and financially help bring Masha home?

To get to know the New family, go to their adoption journey blog, HERE.  If you are willing to give on-line, you can give through their blog. In the right margin of the blog, underneath Masha’s picture, you’ll see a donation button and link. Click on the link to give. Again, go HERE to their blog.  If you would rather give by other means, please email Cynthia personally at cynnew24@gmail.com .

If you are a member of the Grace family think about this with me: How amazing would it be to help the New family adopt Masha and reunite her with Marni? How powerful would it be that we as Grace Community Church financially contribute together and join the New’s in being her “family”!? How joyful would it be to know that ALL those little girls pictured are rescued from a potential future of doom and death? Of course the invitation to give is not just for the Grace family, but for any who read this and are moved in their hearts to give.

Will you join me and my family in financially supporting the New’s journey to bring Masha home? If you’re willing, please go to their blog HERE and give, or contact Cynthia (cynnew24@gmail.com) for more information and/or to give or support in other ways.

Also, would you please share this post and opportunity with all your friends and family to be a part of something very special: Helping provide a family for Masha!!!

Let’s do this!

I can’t help every family adopt in the ways I would like. But I hope to do for at least one family what I wish I could do for every family wanting to adopt. And it goes without saying, this opportunity is especially close to my heart. Personally, on behalf of my family, and especially the New family, thank you for whatever you are willing to do and give to help bring Masha home.

In Faith, Family, Health, Leadership , ,
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6 Truths I plead for my own heart everyday

May 2, 2013 — 4 Comments

prayer_god1. Satisfy my soul.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

If my soul is satisfied in Christ, I will not seek to satisfy it with sin, accomplishments, and people-pleasing.

2. Open my eyes to the wonder of Your Word.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things in Your law.” Psalm 119:18

At times I approach the Bible more out of duty than delight. So before every devotional time, and if I find myself drifting in thought or just reading the text to check it off my daily Bible reading list, I plead out loud, “Holy Spirit, focus me. Open my eyes to BEHOLD wonderful things in Your word!”

3. Turn my heart from selfish gain.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!” Psalm 119:36

My heart is inclined to selfish gain, selfish influence, selfish achievement, selfish everything. So I plead that my heart be turned away from love of self and toward love for Jesus and others by the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. Give me an undivided heart.
“Teach my your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11

When my heart is divided by fears, confusion, temptations, stresses, pressures, disappointments, anger, or just life distractions, I plead with God to unite my heart to fear and trust Him alone.

5. Keep me from deliberate sins.
“Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” Psalm 19:13

I know the bent of my heart. I know the sins that will grab me by the throat if I entertain them at all. Though those sins will bring fleeting pleasure and escape, I know what they will ultimately cost me, my family, and my church. So I plead hard.

6. Help me walk in your will.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

The will of God is more about who I am than what I am doing. I pray to be captivated by Jesus in the core of who I am so that I will rejoice always, unceasingly pray, and give thanks in everything. Then I walk in confidence knowing that God will take care of everything else.

What Scriptures or truths do you find yourself praying everyday?

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I wasn’t prepared…. (A personal post).

April 25, 2013 — 16 Comments
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Post baptism. Dry clothes!

I wasn’t prepared for it.

My family attended the evening gathering of Grace’s formal celebration service of baptism and communion at the Newburgh, NY campus. This followed a weekend where nearly 300 people had been baptized spontaneously (in their clothes!) following my sermon (Read HERE for the story).

Of course, as the kids watched people get baptized they wanted to get into the water too, like any kid would. “Maybe in the future,” I said. “Let’s talk about it and pray about it first to be sure you understand what baptism means.” This is what I’ve said to them for the last, oh, I’d say, 5 baptismal services!

Christie smiled from ear to ear at me. “Babe, they understand. We had a long talk about baptism last night.”

I know that Josiah (8 years old) was born-again two years ago, and one of our adopted daughters, Marni (8 years old), a few months ago. I leaned into Marni so she could hear me over the worship music, “Do you know what they are doing over there? Why do you want to get baptized?”

“Because I love Jesus, dada.”

Josiah basically said the same. So I cleared my pockets, took off my watch, and handed it all over to Christie as she chuckled with excitement and anticipation. Josiah, Marni, and I headed to the portable baptismal pool in front of the stage and in front of all the people. The Grace leaders in the baptismal made room for me knowing I wanted to baptize my own kids. Then off went my boots and socks, off went Josiah’s sneakers and socks, and Marni’s sandles, and we entered the water in our clothes.

And I baptized them.

I will never forget how the water flowed over their closed eyes and peaceful faces as I lowered them beneath the water. I will never forget how when they rose from the water smiles stretched across their faces.

Then came the cheers.

All week long Josiah has been saying, “Dada, I’m so happy! I’m so happy!”

Still. I wasn’t prepared. Their baptisms weren’t planned. There was no build-up to it with the kids like I had dreamed of it being. There was no anticipation and intimate conversations together as we looked forward to the day. No one was there to take pictures and video to show the grandparents. It was nothing like I had rehearsed in my mind for years. But their baptism was not about me, my plans, my dreams. It was about Jesus and Josiah; Jesus and Marni. Period.

May they treasure it forever….

On a personal note, I praise God for the sermon he preached through Marni and Josiah to me. It came through the priceless picture of the look on their faces beneath the water, and coming out of the water.

Peace and joy.

I will treasure it…forever.

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