Mimi and Pros Wedding Cuernava, Mx 2008

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.