PRAYER APPOINTMENTS

You’ve had this happen haven’t you? Your sitting at your desk minding your own business and all of the sudden someone comes into your mind and you have this sense that you should be talking to God about that person. This is a God Appointment and in particular a Prayer Appointment.

A Prayer Appointment is a prompting from the Holy Spirit to intercede (pray) for someone. Often times you might not even be aware of why you are praying. You just know that God has placed this person on your heart or in your mind. And so you bring their name before God.

Other times you are completely aware. Like a man named Epaphras (if you are looking for names for your kid this is a good one). The Apostle Paul mentions that he is wrestling in prayer (kind of an interesting description) and that he had specific things he was praying about.

Epapharas, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Colossians 4:12 NIV

I know that many of us don’t think we are “good at prayer.” Well, these Prayer Appointments are wonderful opportunities that God give us. I have a prayer quote that I have committed to memory: The people around you need prayer and you need the practice.

Go ahead be ready for these God Appointments – the promptings to pray!

Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

MY PRESIDENT

I didn’t vote for President Obama. I am in significant disagreement with many of the positions that he holds on several issues. One that is prominent in my mind today is his position on abortion. I am hoping that he does not make abortion more accessible. There are other foundational positions that I am concerned about, but I must say that I do sense a positive emotional upturn in our country.

As I watched the inauguration, via video, I was genuinely moved. And as I have mentioned before, I am proud to be an American. It is an incredible thing to witness again the peaceful transfer of power. I couldn’t help but notice the feeling of excitement and anticipation in our national psyche. I couldn’t help but notice the sense of unity among many people of varying races, backgrounds, faiths, and dreams. I couldn’t help but notice an audaciousness of hope. And hope is good for us.

Can President Obama fulfill these expectations and hopes? I don’t know, but I sure hope so. The weight is now on him and he will be called on to produce. As people of faith we get some choices to make at this moment. We can support, encourage, and guide him or we can be a part of the chorus of people who will seek to break him down. We should disagree on issues when we must, but we can do all of our disagreeing by speaking the truth in love.

Finally, we can pray for our President. For those of us who are people of the Word – prayer for our leaders is a command.

“Father, in the name of Jesus Christ I ask you to bless President Obama. Bless his wife and children. Protect them and give them divine wisdom as they are a part of the leadership of this nation. Help us to be a people who bring you honor and praise. Amen.”

A partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul