From the Word: “But to Serve” (from Matthew 20:20-34)
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NASB)

Thank You, Lord, that even as You were going to Jerusalem, and knowing what was going to happen there (vv. 17-19), You still pressed on with what was the right thing to do, the right priorities.  This comment You made in response to James’ and John’s mother’s request.  May I follow Your example and be found a servant in Your eyes, Lord!

What does that mean for me here in my current role?  Give me wisdom to know, Lord, how You want me to conduct myself.  Yesterday was so difficult!  I felt like a servant; pretty much all I did was what others had for me to do, and I got very little done of my own plans and needs.  How shall I live today?  It shouldn’t matter so much that I am helping and serving others, but that You be honored by my activities today, and if that means not doing anything on my own list in order to help other people with theirs, then so be it.

Please pray with us:
This Friday we head out for a three day conference with The Navigators military staff who are ministering on military bases here in the northeast.  Although our primary ministry focus is no longer with the military community, we still get to serve behind the scenes in a support role with our military staff. That means we get invited to the military staff gatherings like this one, which gives us opportunities to keep up with some of our military friends and to stay current with the latest challenges our military ministries are facing.  Please pray with us that our time together would be personally refreshing for our military staff and would re-energize them to better serve the military members and their families who are facing the difficult demands and dangers of deployment, combat action, and family separation.

From the Word: Envious? Or generous? (from Matthew 20:1-19)
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:15 NASB)

Lord, I can identify with both here! If I had gone to work first thing in the morning, borne the burden of the work and endured the scorching heat of the day (v12), I would feel like I deserve more than those who didn’t work as long as I did! That’s the good ol’ American work ethic, and You even say that You will recompense a man according to his work (Psalm 62:12).   Is it wrong for me to identify with these guys who you say were envious?

But then You throw in this idea of generosity, and I can see that, too!   If I was one of the guys who didn’t have the good fortune of being hired early in the day, and had to go home with only a fraction of a day’s wage, I would still need to feed my family on what little I made.   And in today’s economy there will be more of this rather than less, people needing to pay bills with little or no income.   So generosity needs to be extended to those who need it by those who have it.

Thank You, Lord, for the heart of this landowner who was willing to be generous with what he had. I want to learn from You and Your heart of generosity. May I do all I can to work hard, make good choices, be responsible and plan well, and at the same time to trust Your sovereignty in our situation, and do our best to be generous as we have the means to do so.   Amen.

Please pray with us:
In our ministry with people in their 20s here in the Philadelphia Metro area, we are seeing mobility that is typical for this age group. Just this week we got word of a grad student moving to Philly into an area of town that another of our friends just moved out of this past weekend.   Also this spring we have had a few new guys move into town and join our group, while another is leaving next week for a job opportunity in another part of the state.   Please pray with us that we can provide encouragement in their walks with God, guidance in their decisions and relational stability for those who are still experiencing transitions in their lives post-college and early in their careers. Thanks.

From the Word: Grieving over possessions (from Matthew 19:16-30)
“But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” (Matthew 19:22 NASB)

Lord, protect me from this kind of grief, this sense of loss over things! Everything tangible has a span of existence that at some point will come to an end. You give us what we need to sustain our lives and to keep us going.   But if my focus is not on You and my priorities are with things that are not eternal, then my heart will get wrapped up in the wrong “things”, things that will fade, will break, will wear out, will rust and decompose.

Lord may I keep my eyes fixed on You and not be preoccupied with tangible things that are only temporal.  And the temporal things don’t just have to be tangible - status, position and influence - these also could pull on my heart but not facilitate the advancement of Your Kingdom. I want to be a foundation-builder, an equipper of the most basic elements.  May I serve You and Your Kingdom and Your Kingdom people well in this, Lord.  Amen.

Please pray with us:
As of this weekend, our house occupancy will have doubled from three to six; our three college kids will officially be home for the summer.  We have set aside some time next week for family vacation days.  Please pray with us that in our time together we will be able to re-establish a healthy family dynamic.  Now that we have at least four official adults, I am trusting God that the atmosphere of our home and the spirit of our interaction will respect and appreciate the growth, maturity and faith of each of us.  Thanks.

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From the Word: What is lacking? (from Matthew 19:16 - 26)
“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things [commandments] I have kept; what am I still lacking?’” (Matthew 19:20 NASB)

Lord, the insecurity and sense of inadequacy that plagued this young man is certainly something I can identify with! Knowing that You by Your grace and Your work on the cross - and Your resurrection - have accomplished all that I need in order to be guaranteed a place in heaven, I should think that I would have a greater sense of contentment and security.  So why do I still have feelings of inadequacy?  Is it in my human nature, the tendency to think that I need to be doing something to earn the privilege? One of the great theological questions of the ages - what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30); what must we do to work the works of God? (John 6:28). In this man’s case, something was lacking! It was the issue of his heart; what possessed his heart? His possessions possessed him!

I must release to You all that I have, so that nothing will hinder or obstruct my total unconditional devotion and obedience to You, Lord. What comes to mind for me? Nothing, at the moment… If there is something I’m blind to, would You reveal it to me today, Lord? My desire is to be wholly obedient to You, not out of obligation but in a grateful response to what You have done for me. May my conscience not be blind or insensitive to something You need to bring to my attention. Amen.

Please pray with us:
These past two weeks have been full ones for us, and I admit that I have been a bit distracted, albeit thankful, with milestones in our family (see last week’s post). My email inbox has numerous updates and prayer opportunities from friends who are committed to the advance of the gospel around the world. But I am scrambling just to catch up with things back here at home. I am thankful that God has not lost His focus on needs, challenges, and open doors around the world! Most likely you also are in touch with some who are serving Christ in various locations around the globe. Please pray with us that we will confidently come before the throne of grace with the needs and opportunities that our friends and His servants are trusting Him for. Despite my sense of inadequacy, God is still Master of the Universe. Keep trusting Him with us for big things! Thanks.

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From the Word: Humbling Myself (from Matthew 18:1-11)
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4 NASB)

Lord, how is a child humble?  I know I’ve asked this question before, but I think I need a reminder.  I continue to hear from the world - and even from some of Your people who are the supposed experts and influencers - that we are to pursue greatness, leadership and success (all in Your name, of course).  And then You come along here and remind me, “Unless you are turned and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v3)  Here it is not even an issue of greatness, but an issue of entering the kingdom!  Whoa…

Help me to sort out these crossed signals.  I know that I want to listen you You, I want to understand what You are saying.  After the mistakes I made with — and their checkbook situation, it’s not hard to be humble.  But is what I am feeling true humility?  I don’t think that humility is rooted in failure - the problem with my response to failure is again a precooccupation with myself and an inordinate focus on me from a negative point of view.  That’s probably not humility.

So what is?  Teachability?  An open mind?  A curiosity about things?  Always learning, not having arrived, not intentionally pursuing greatness?  Save me, Lord, from the trap of the world’s misleading promises.  To be as a child, wanting to please the parents, wanting affirmation from those over us, hoping to deepen the relationship by sharing what we have.  Lord, may I grow in my understanding of what humility looks like for me with You.  I do want to enter Your kingdom - whatever it takes I will do!   Amen.

Please pray with us:
This month is graduation for most colleges and universities around the country, high schools as well.  And yes, our son graduates from college this weekend!  They are entering a new season of life, either pursuing advanced education or entering into the working world.  For those who are following Christ, please pray with us that they will keep Him first in their lives (Matthwew 6:33, to seek first His kingdom) as they engage the opportunities,  demands and distractions facing them.  It is easy to get off track in this next step.

Thanks.

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From the Word: Don’t miss Elijah (from Matthew 17:1-13)
“And His disciples asked Him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’” (Matthew 17:10 NASB)

By asking this question, it is apparent that the disciples knew the prophecy in Malachi that said Elijah would come to turn the hearts of the fathers and children back to one another.  They saw Elijah with You, Lord (v3-4), so it was reasonable for them to think that this appearance was the fulfillment of that prophecy.  But You set the record straight for them, explaining that Elijah already came, and they missed him!

Lord, I don’t want to miss the events that You have for me.  Keep me from failing to recognize the signs and indicators You put before me.  Save me, Lord, from dullness in my heart, from blindness in my eyes and from ignorance in my mind.  Have I been distracted by temporal things? Has my preoccupation with daily concerns kept me from hearing Your voice and discerning Your leading?  Lord, may my heart be open to You, my mind be alert and uncluttered and my eyes searching for the signs and indicators that You place before me to follow You and to do Your will! Amen.

Please pray with us:
Brent, Jefty, and Lin minister inside the Philadelphia Prison, connecting with  inmates whose hearts God has touched in order to train and equip them as laborers for the Kingdom of God, both while they are still incarcerated, but also for the future once the inmates return to their communities.  This next week the three are traveling to Louisiana to participate in a prison ministry event at Angola Prison (the name of the prison, not the country) where for a number of years an exciting ministry training environment has been effectively training inmates there in the cause of advancing the gospel. Among other things the week’s events will include ministry workshops with inmates, and volunteers going cell-to-cell to meet with the prisoners, listen to their stories, share the gospel and talk to them about the events of the week.  Also, The Navigators’ Free On The Inside discipleship curriculum is being used in the prison and now a special children’s edition with the same stories for children has been developed for use with the prisoner’s children so they will be studying the same stories this week.  Please pray with us that Brent, Jefty, and Lin would be an asset to the weeks events as well as learn some valuable lessons that will enable them to be more fruitful here in the Philadelphia prison.  Thanks.

For an overview of the prison ministry in Angola you can check out this article.

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From the Word: Understanding the Vision (from Matthew 17:1-21)
“Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:13 NASB)

According to Your use of the word “vision” here (v9), it is not a dream or fantasy, it is a glimpse into reality that can only be seen by supernatural intervention. They saw You transfigured  - they saw who You really are in all your magnificence - because You allowed them to, because You provided them the opportunity.  They only saw You this way, as you really are, because You chose to reveal Yourself to them in this way.   And one interesting thing about this is that they did not process it correctly on their own (at least Peter didn’t).   So then, to understand a vision, not only do we need Your intervention - Your active involvement to see the vision - we need Your explanation to understand the vision.  The disciples understood because You explained it to them.  I will not understand spiritual truth without Your help.

Lord, what do You want me to understand on a daily basis? Since we have Your Word and Your Holy Spirit, we should be able to function in faith without the necessity of visions on top of Your revealed Word.   But if You know I would benefit from a vision, then I want to be open to it.  But I feel like there is so much in Your Word to understand! I must accept the fact that my understanding will always be inadequate, so I pray that I would be receptive to anything You want to do to give me greater understanding.  If there is anything hindering my understanding of who You are and anything else You want me to know, I pray that You would reveal it to me. Amen.

Please pray with us: As this is the post for “personal” prayer for us, would you join us in taking a minute to pray for one of our kids in college? Why don’t you pray for the one you know the best, or the one that you sense may need the most prayer right now? Each one of them has done quite well academically so far, but they are all coming up to the end of the semester very soon. Some specifics you could pray for them with us:

- to be able to focus their mind and creative energy on the end of semester/finals projects and to finish strong (one has a 40 page thesis to complete by next Thursday and has a laptop that is busted and is no longer portable, although it is still usable.)

- for efficient use of their time (one was sick for a few days last week and feels behind).

- and for each of us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) in the midst of the daily demands that could easily distract us.

Thanks!

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From the Word: “Don’t be afraid” (from Matthew 17:1-13)
“And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’” (Matthew 17:7 NASB)

[In my previous entry the disciples were terrified by the voice of the Father (verse 5). But it is as if He was telling them, "This is My boy!  I'm so proud of Him - listen to what He has to say!"]

And here, Jesus, it is as if You are saying, “Don’t be afraid, that’s My Dad…He’s a great guy, no need to be afraid of Him!”

Lord, I certianly appreciate going back over this passage again.  Thank You for making this a bit more personal for me.  I do want to listen to You, I want to view You with the deepest respect and awe, but I do not want to be frightened of You to the extent that my reaction is to draw back and pull away.  I want to fall on the ground in worship, but I also want to stand before You with confidence, not in my own abilities but with confidence in You.  I do want to hear Your voice and be able to receive it without being afraid.  May I not be too familiar nor too distant from You.  Amen.

Please pray with us:
As we go through this weekend, let’s take a moment to consider that all over the world followers of Jesus are remembering and are expressing gratitude and humble praise for what He did for us on the cross. It is reassuring to know that in every time zone, in every country, brothers and sisters in Christ are celebrating for the same reasons that we are. Thank God with us that Jesus dealt with our eternal destiny by His death and resurrection. Thank You Jesus.

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From the Word:  God’s Terrifying Voice (from Matthew 17:1-13)
”When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.”  (Matthew 17:6 NASB)

O Lord, do I truly want to hear Your voice?  I often pray that I would.  But the reaction of these men ought to cause me to reconsider… Here they were with You, Jesus, some of your closest friends.  It was not Your spectacular visible change that took place before their eyes that terrified them; it was Your voice, heavenly Father, that frightened them out of their socks - caused them to fall to the ground!

Have I ever been so scared that I have fallen down? Can’t remember a time when I have…  Am I too cavalier about my relationship with You, Lord? Do I react in awe when I consider Your greatness?  On the one hand, it is good than I am relaxed, that I can enjoy Your company as I would that of a good friend. Yet on the other hand, You are the Majestic and Mighty Creator of the universe! Nothing is too difficult for You!!  You are fully deserving of my deepest respect, reverence, and awe.

Lord, may I respond appropriately in each situation in which You place me: when awe, humility, and worship is due You, to give it, and when joyful, hearty camaraderie is fitting, to relax and enjoy it!  O Lord, You are the Mighty Hunter - You are the Master of all skills, the One to spend the weekend with in the wilderness hunting, fishing, hiking, or whatever. You know the best spots, You know just what lure or fly the fish will go for. May I appreciate more fully Your earthly expression and may I fully embrace with awe, respect and worship Your magnificent greatness! Amen. You are completely and totally worthy to be praised, Lord.

Please pray with us:
A major focus of our ministry here is to train and equip the next generation with a heart and vision for ministry.  A guiding passage for me is Psalm 71:17-18:  ”O God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous deeds.  And even when I am old and gray, O  God, do not forsake me, until I delcare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.”

This coming week in Colorado Springs (Sunday, March 28 – Tuesday, March 30),  The Navigators are convening a team of representatives from metro areas around the country to develop more effective approaches to the encouragement and training of this young generation, particularly in our metro areas. Please pray with us for the planning team as they consider a number of essential factors, including our guiding principles, the role of mentors, and a future national retreat (which has been an annual event for several years but there is not one planned for 2010).

Thanks.

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The demands of life often overtake us and cause us to get tunnel vision in the latest daily crisis. It is easy to miss what God is quietly doing around us in other’s lives, much less fail to see what He is doing in our own. I need a helpful reminder every now and then to take a moment and look around, to pray and ask God to show Himself and His activities, both in my circumstances and also in the lives of those around me.

The easiest way to do “ministry” (and what we are almost universally encouraged to do) is to invite someone to come with me to where I go for fellowship, teaching, and encouragement (church, small group, etc.).  But what if they are not ready to step into my subculture?  Inviting them into my world may be the right thing to do at some point, but not the first thing.  In that case, then, I am the closest that they will come to Jesus, right where I am. My friend and I already have a common bond that connects us: work, housing/neighborhood, similar recreational interests.  Those are the venues God can use to connect me with people who may have a deep spiritual yearning, but aren’t ready to move out of the comfort and safety of their world and into the strange world of mine.

I want them to be relaxed and feel safe with me, not judged or feel like they are a project.  I would much rather put myself in their world, where I am the one faced with unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations rather than expect them to risk stepping into mine. And if we do share common interests, chances are it won’t be all that strange for me anyway. Let me be the risk-taker; isn’t that what faith is all about?

So, I trust God that “right where I am - where I live, work, and play - God is working not only in my life, but He is actively engaged in drawing others around me to Himself.  The most relevant expression of authentic life in Christ for them is me living out my faith in the same circumstances in which they live daily, under the radar, not dependent upon a program or an agenda.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)

Please pray with us:
As we continue to engage with our 20something friends here in the Philly area, please pray with us that our lives would be the salt and light that Jesus told us to be.  Pray for boldness in our relationships to be expressed as a confident, relaxed, winsome and humble excitement about Jesus.  Thanks.

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