In Spring in Winter

The wasp, the ladybug, and the squirrel all seem alive in this Spring moment of Winter. Sitting outside at the lake, I’ve contemplated this phenomenal week. All around me the cardinals and finches wisp through the air at the neighbor’s bird buffet. It is February. It is time for ice and storms and cold. Yet, the grass is attempting to grow.

When we entered our lake home late last night after an exhausting week, how surprised I was to find a wasp jumping about on the ceiling of the living room. What was he doing awake? After taking care of him, I notice a ladybug flying. A ladybug! The sure sign of Spring was in my home in the dead of winter. Sure it had been 70 degrees that day. But on the road down, there was ice constantly on the side of all the north facing hills. Ice and Spring seem odd mixture.

In Spring in Winter, this week has been odd like that. It has been absolutely phenomenal. For months, I have been attempting to get some sort of stable ministry going with our young married couples at Catedral. For months, I have been attempting to get my work organized and sales started in motion in my business. Neither want to make any progress. Every day is a hard struggle and a push against resistive force.

In Spring in Winter life is exploding in areas that seemingly should be dormant. In Matamoros, the explosion of God’s grace was phenomenal. You will have to read that story elsewhere. It is too big for this spot. The Father performed miracles, substantial miracles, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. In Oklahoma City, I came across a new film being produced that needs to be prescreened in the Latino community. We will work alongside Los Abuelos and see miracles. Miss HIV is out and has some great clips of friends in it. A minister friend took a copy for his congregation. EGM gave me ten more to distribute. This week I speak alongside friends at an urban ministry school convocation. The one minister and his congregation were a key part of that movie in OKC. Not an unnoticed happenstance that God puts us together in the right week. A large organization agreed to send us food for the poor in Mexico and Oklahoma City. A sponsoring church directly across from the business of a friend involved agreed to give us storage space to receive and ship. Ministers are meeting and talking about joining together in efforts.

Where does all of this Spring activity fit in the winter of struggle? Seemingly it jumps from nowhere. In a moment we are launched into an effective mission organization being prepped to bring solutions to our own city and sister up with a congregation in Matamoros. In the same week, a local alternative school in the middle of the worst gang infestation in our metro wants our involvement. The principal asked me to work weekly with his teachers in building a community of peace. This is the start of then reaching those students and influencing their home world. Couple this with the HIV work and Los Abuelos and you have a more than full time ministry changing a community and the world through partnerships.

In Spring in Winter, I am a business man with multiple businesses to run? Again, this week I’ve been asked to speak at yet a third conference this Spring (the real one). In two months I will speak in Vegas for a computer conference, in Philadelphia for a digital publishing conference, and in Washinton D.C. for a facility and engineering conference on exactly the same subject. In the next two months we will launch two new nationwide clients. What gives? Why now? There are other pieces wanting to launch in the background. This is a monumental week of happenings birthed out of years of relationship and cultivation of friendships in Christ across the community. The Father is speaking. The Holy Spirit is organizing His agenda not mine. Jesus is advancing His ministry and life to others. Stay tuned. God so love s the world.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Some cleanup and focus

prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
prayermetrostudy.blogspot.com

Okay, so I put up two new blogs to differentiate. This one was getting too clouded.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Jesus - In the Father's Heart

Matthew 1:19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph was both honorable and compassionate. Who else would the Father choose for His Son's training and upbringing? What better choice than a flawed human with a heart of compassion?

Joseph, with no knowledge of the power of the situation, with no knowledge that the Son of God was involved, took the route of best treatment for Mary. He was taking measures to keep her protected in the embarrassment of the situation. He had the heart of the Father to cover and protect. Who else would God chose but one with His own heart?

ACT! What in your life needs silent treatment? Give it to the Father. He will secret it away in forgiveness.

PRAY! Compassionate Father, release me from my past. In Jesus, I find forgiveness and covering. Thank You for being You.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Jesus, Interrupter

Matthew 1: 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus has a certain knack for interrupting the status quo. Our expectations of life can easily be shifted when He enters. Joseph and Mary had an arrangement, an understanding, and an expectation. Their families surely were looking forward to a certain joyous celebration and joining of their lives. Then enters Jesus. Whoops! Where did this baby come from?

ACT! Where has being involved with Jesus challenged and changed your life? Move with the change. Let the Holy Ghost have control.

PRAY! Father, Creator, and Interrupter. You speak and all changes. You desire and my life is at your command. Spirit of Life, move me with the Father's plan. Interrupt where You will.


PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Jesus- the son of David, the son of Abraham

Matthew1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Meeting Jesus means meeting the final, eternal king of life. Jesus is the son of David, the favored king of Israel. David received the promise of a kingdom without end. Jesus is the last king in the line. Jesus is the king that never loses the throne.

Meeting Jesus starts with embracing faith. Faith gives substance to life. Faith brings to reality our dreams. Jesus is the son of Abraham, the father of faith. No more important aspect could begin a journey with Him.

ACT! Get busy turning over a dream to Jesus. Take hold of the faith of Abraham and submit the request to the King of Kings.

PRAY! Holy Father, Jesus gave me the heritage of David and Abraham. Jesus gave me connection to great faith and authority. I submit my dreams to His ability to see it come to pass.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Jesus, Giver of Life

Matthew 1: 2: Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Jesus comes from the line of Abraham. Abraham was a giver of life. Abraham turned faith into a lineage of ability and more life. Abraham was an investor in the future. His sights were always set forward.

Meeting Jesus means meeting the future. He is future focused. He intends to begat. He intends to birth new life, new dreams, new ways, and new opportunities for you.

ACT! Take that dream of yours. Think of who else could be involved. Give them the opportunity to be a part.

PRAY! Gracious Father of Life, Jesus challenges me to be like You. You are a Father. Abraham got his ways from You, the Father of fathers. Teach me to birth newness through others.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

What is Missions?

Missionary efforts evoke much passion in congregations. Various approaches all seem to be the most needed and most effective. Some believe in fully funding missionaries to a cause. Some believe in missionaries self funding. Some let missionaries ask for offerings and some take the route of silence and prayer. Some work in the community and minister. Some dedicate full time endeavors to evangelism or some humanitarian cause. All can be effective. All can be useless.

The mission of a congregation is specific and general. The mission of an individual is specific and general. All are called to share faith and compassion with neighbors. All are called to a specific outreach. None seems right or wrong, just a choice of how to express.

Express we must. Not to express is the choice of escaping responsibility and accountability. It does not work. We are still responsible. We are still accountable.

For many years, I worked and gave large sum to local and far missions of congregations. For many years, I worked in the local and far missions and received my income from supporters. For many years, I've worked in business and given my time into local missions.

What is best? None. What is most effective? Pick any of the above.

But pick. Do something. It is passion about the people that builds effectiveness. It is loving the people to whom the mission is focused that makes the difference. Method of working it out and method of paying for it are not the issues. Doing it is the issue.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Heart to Heart

Proverbs 27: 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

This quick trio of thoughts from the man of wisdom bring a quick observation. Consider the intermixture of thought. One man sharpens another. What we tend will produce for us. It is the heart that reflects.

Take some serious time this week to interact with another person at the heart level. Try to skip all of that face to face interaction that can interfere. Pierce through to the heart. Look deep into the eyes. Get connected. Tending this type of time with a trustworthy person will bring longlasting fruit into your life. It will change you and them together.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Morning Prayers

Father, it is a beautiful day. In fact, every day You create is beautiful.
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our definitions and expectations, we miss beauty.

Help us to find beauty in today.
Help us to find peace in today.
Help us to find comfort in today.
Help us to find love in today.

Embolden us to give grace.
Embolden us to give mercy.
Embolden us to give forgiveness.
Embolden us to give support.

Let this day be a day we find what we need and give some to others.

PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion.
Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.

Thanks Giving

Finalizing 2008 comes to mind this week. Why do we think so far ahead? Why not just take care of the week. My mind is consumed with what needs to happen next week and the next and the next to cause this world to conform more to my Christ's heart. Why do we do that? Why do we take on tasks that are not our own? Why do we not say grace over what has been handed into our influence and be satisfied?

Thankfulness is a condition of settledness. It is acceptance of the present condition as a gift of God. Thankful living is a living based on pure trust of God's providence. Sure, we need to pray for the kingdom to come in fulness. Sure, we need to be concerned at the twists of men and women that do not see His kindness. Sure, we need to espouse the beauty of disciplines of God such as purity, chastity, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, love, joy, and peace.

Then be settled in the results. Be strong in faith that He is in charge of all of this universe. We march as soldiers of mercy and grace. Our smiles this week should preach a God in control and moving our world to a point of full redemption. He is doing that. Do you believe it? I do?

Our concern should now tighten our brow. Our prayer should not sour our speech. Our focus should not judge His created children. Do you believe it? I do? When we become this way, we have stepped away from trust and faith and hope and love and thanfulness and entered self reliance. God, forgive us and restore us to thankfulness.

Father, we are so thankful for Your love and life. You gave us this incredible world full of beauty. You launched us into a position of stewardship. In our hands You have place knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom cries out in the streets to guide us and protect us. All we have to do is grab it.

So teach us this week, the grace of gratefulness.
So teach us this week, the strenth of confidence.
So teach us this week, the power of faith in Your sovereignity.
So teach us this week, the rest of thankfulness .
So teach us this week, the peace of contentedness.

We rest in You and Your love.
We rest in the confidence that You are in control.
We rest in knowing You are moving all things to redemption.
We rest in understanding that no mountain, valley, field, river, or rocky landscape can separate us from the unfathomable destiny intricately factoried in Your heart and mind for us.

Thanks. Thanks for being God. Thanks for giving us a chance at living. Thanks for creating us and putting us in this world of promise.

Pain may come. But, it will pass.
Struggle may pounce. But, we get out from under.
Conflict may constrict. But, we burst free.
Misunderstanding may spin. But, we settle.
Dis-ease may attack. But, we heal.
Death may overwhelm. But, we live.

Thanks.