Have you ever wondered why there are so many references to "one another" in the Scriptures? Maybe you relate better to others than I do. I am generally an introvert and like isolation and independence, but this week the Lord has really shown me how important it is to be connected to one another, especially the one anothers in the body of Christ.
It is so easy to get discouraged, or to be lazy, or to be tempted when we isolate ourselves from others. I've had kind of a tough week. To be honest I've had a tough month or more. Some of it I have brought on myself, but much of it has been totally out of my control. I don't know if it has been just the difficulties of life on earth, or if it has been spiritual warfare directed at me and my family. But I PRAISE GOD in the midst of all of these struggles because I know that He is here with me, and I also know that I feel His presence and hear His words when I am with others who share my love for Him.
I have been so encouraged by people this week. Friends that I know are praying for me and expecting me to be in prayer for them. Teachers that have struggled through life's pains for much longer than I have, and yet still smile and have a peace that surpasses understanding. And strangers that have I a bond and connection to that is so strong it seems like we've known each other for years. It is in weeks like this one that I know why there are so many "one anothers" in Scripture.
Thank you for your prayers for me and my family. Thank you for your prayers for the Fellowship Project and those wrapped up in this faith experiment. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for your presence, in my life and in the life of others. Thank you for being the body of Christ and allowing His healing presence to flood into the people and places that you visit each day. May God continue to fill you with His presence and that you too would feel the encouragement of the Lord as you meet with one another.
Blessings,
Shiloh
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Impending Doom
How do you react when you feel like a disaster is inevitable? Most of us get disillusioned and even disgusted. We feel a lot like the people standing outside of Noah's ark watching the floodwaters rise. We know we should do something, but what does it matter? Destruction is coming so why should we even try? If that is how you are feeling these days with all the financial problems that our economy is in, or if that's how you feel about this upcoming election, or maybe for a totally different reason, I want to offer you a ray of hope.
What is something we can do no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the sitution, no matter how disastrous it seems? We can pray! Never forget that we have the privilege of communicating with the Creator and Sustainer of all life any moment that we have the desire to. No matter what our needs are, no matter what has happened today, we can (and should) always come to our Father in heaven. What's the use if we are facing impending doom? First of all, if we know Jesus as our Lord we are never facing impending doom. Secondly, those are the moments that we are most childlike and most need to come to our Father for support, protection, and encouragement.
Maybe we don't know how to pray in this situation. No worries; the Spirit will pray for us, in us, through us. Jesus' first students didn't know how to pray either, so they asked him. The model that he taught them is still amazing and powerful today. He told them to pray to the Father, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Wouldn't this world be a better place if it was run like heaven? That is a profound prayer. It is simple, it is powerful, and most importantly, it is already being answered.
I have to thank author and speaker Jack Taylor for this next incredible thought. Something else is impending. Something wonderful. God's Kingdom is coming! It is coming, but am I fighting the inevitable, or am I praying with God, "Your kingdom come?" Am I actively praying for God's Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven? Am I asking for it to happen now? Am I actively participating in the process of restoring this earth to the place of grace that it was intended to be? It is coming. We do believe that, don't we? If so, then let's start acting like it by pleading with God that His Kingdom comes quickly and that He would use us to make it happen.
Don't get caught up in the gloom and doom politics or economics, or anything else that our enemy can throw at you. Remember to pray. Remember our Lord. Remember His Kingdom is coming. It is near. It is within us.
Blessings,
Shiloh
What is something we can do no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the sitution, no matter how disastrous it seems? We can pray! Never forget that we have the privilege of communicating with the Creator and Sustainer of all life any moment that we have the desire to. No matter what our needs are, no matter what has happened today, we can (and should) always come to our Father in heaven. What's the use if we are facing impending doom? First of all, if we know Jesus as our Lord we are never facing impending doom. Secondly, those are the moments that we are most childlike and most need to come to our Father for support, protection, and encouragement.
Maybe we don't know how to pray in this situation. No worries; the Spirit will pray for us, in us, through us. Jesus' first students didn't know how to pray either, so they asked him. The model that he taught them is still amazing and powerful today. He told them to pray to the Father, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Wouldn't this world be a better place if it was run like heaven? That is a profound prayer. It is simple, it is powerful, and most importantly, it is already being answered.
I have to thank author and speaker Jack Taylor for this next incredible thought. Something else is impending. Something wonderful. God's Kingdom is coming! It is coming, but am I fighting the inevitable, or am I praying with God, "Your kingdom come?" Am I actively praying for God's Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven? Am I asking for it to happen now? Am I actively participating in the process of restoring this earth to the place of grace that it was intended to be? It is coming. We do believe that, don't we? If so, then let's start acting like it by pleading with God that His Kingdom comes quickly and that He would use us to make it happen.
Don't get caught up in the gloom and doom politics or economics, or anything else that our enemy can throw at you. Remember to pray. Remember our Lord. Remember His Kingdom is coming. It is near. It is within us.
Blessings,
Shiloh
Monday, October 20, 2008
Prayer Priority
I was really struck recently as I was reading through an entry in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. He wrote, "Prayer doesn't equip us for greater works - prayer is the greater work." It got me to thinking about my own personal priority of prayer. I totally agree with his statement in theory, but does it show up in my practice? I truly believe that prayer is the greater work, but is it the greater work in my life?
As a part of the training that I lead others through I stress the importance of prayer. Prayer saturation is the first step in the process of spiritual reproduction. I teach others that without prayer the whole process is stunted and won't progress to maturity or reproduction. Our last cycle of training was completed in May. After that training was completed we did an evaluation and I was convicted that not enough emphasis was placed on prayer, even though it had the place of priority on paper. Throughout this cycle of training I have been very vocal about prayer as a priority, but when I am really honest with myself I realize that talking about prayer a whole lot doesn't accomplish much.
There is a huge difference between talking about something and doing something. It dawned on me that if I was spending a great deal of time and effort in prayer, both privately and within the training that I lead, that I wouldn't need to talk about it being such a priority. Anyone paying any bit of attention would already know that because of my actions. Maybe I have been so vocal about it lately because I have spent such a meager amount of time and effort in actual prayer.
Maybe you have a similar area in your life, maybe even your prayer life. Maybe like me you have been placing an emphasis on prayer, or Bible study, or some particular ministry, but that priority can't be measured by actual practice. It is time for me to lead by example and allow prayer to truly be the greater work in my life. May you join me in this discipline and may we all see the blessings from it.
Shiloh
As a part of the training that I lead others through I stress the importance of prayer. Prayer saturation is the first step in the process of spiritual reproduction. I teach others that without prayer the whole process is stunted and won't progress to maturity or reproduction. Our last cycle of training was completed in May. After that training was completed we did an evaluation and I was convicted that not enough emphasis was placed on prayer, even though it had the place of priority on paper. Throughout this cycle of training I have been very vocal about prayer as a priority, but when I am really honest with myself I realize that talking about prayer a whole lot doesn't accomplish much.
There is a huge difference between talking about something and doing something. It dawned on me that if I was spending a great deal of time and effort in prayer, both privately and within the training that I lead, that I wouldn't need to talk about it being such a priority. Anyone paying any bit of attention would already know that because of my actions. Maybe I have been so vocal about it lately because I have spent such a meager amount of time and effort in actual prayer.
Maybe you have a similar area in your life, maybe even your prayer life. Maybe like me you have been placing an emphasis on prayer, or Bible study, or some particular ministry, but that priority can't be measured by actual practice. It is time for me to lead by example and allow prayer to truly be the greater work in my life. May you join me in this discipline and may we all see the blessings from it.
Shiloh
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