Prayer
stands for “Communicate with God through prayer.” Prayer is the main thing that has carried
me through life. Just as one wants to talk to her best friend, husband, child, or whomever, she
should want to talk to God in the same way. I know when something exciting happens, I
immediately want to share it. By the same token, when problems arise, I need to discuss
matters with someone. Although I love to talk to my loved ones, God is the best One to talk to
in either case. God already knows exactly what has happened, but there is a comfort in
thanking Him for the good things and asking for His help to discern what to do in any situation.
Psalm 145:18 states, “The Lord is near unto all those who call upon Him, to all who call
upon Him in truth.” The more I talk to God, the closer I feel to Him, just as I would to anyone
with whom I communicate. Many times driving down the road I talk to God aloud. People
driving near me may think I’ve lost my mind, but the truth is I’m finding peace and comfort in
my quiet time with my friend, God. (Obviously, don’t close your eyes when you do this!) Some
conversations with God are long, but some are as short as “Thanks” or “Help!” Quite often I
simply think of a situation where I say, “Lord, Your will.” There is no correct formula for prayer.
However, with that being said, let me tell you something that I came up with years ago
as I was writing Sunday School literature for Baptist Publishing House. It has helped me many
times to remember not to monopolize God’s time by only asking for help or by not
acknowledging that He will take care of everything in His own will. Since I love acrostics, I came
up with this one for PRAYER. Maybe it will help you as you draw closer to God through prayer.
Scriptures to read:
Praise: Psalm 107:31-32
Repent: 1 John 1:9
Ask: Matthew 21:22
Yield: Matthew 26:39-45
Expect: 1 John 5:14-15
Rest: Matthew 11:28
Prayer: “Lord, that You for being there no matter what time or day or night that I come to You.
You listen faithfully to everything I say or think. Since I don’t have to talk aloud, I can pray even
in the midst of a crowded room. Please help me to remember to come to You first whether it’s
to rejoice or to cry. Show me, Lord, what You would have me do and how to be more faithful in
bringing You all of my hopes, dreams, and desires as well as my troubles. Thank You, again, for
being God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Respond to God in prayer every chance you get today. Learn to communicate with Him on a
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Closer
CLOSER
Our purpose in life is to pursue a closer, more intimate relationship with Christ under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit
through the development of spiritual disciplines set forth in the acronym, C.L.O.S.E.R.
It was a long engagement: one year and two months to be exact. Tommy was in Bald Knob farming and I was finishing my senior year of college by student teaching in Ft Smith. It was hard to stay connected but we certainly made the effort.
There were no cell phones and to call long distance cost extra. So instead, we wrote letters. The letters were not just occasionally, they were daily! We ‘talked’ on paper and shared our daily activities. I would often beat the mailman to the mail box and received the precious writing straight into my hand. Immediately, I opened each letter knowing it was from the one who loved me deeply and wanted me to spend the rest of my life with him. It was how we stayed CLOSER while apart.
This year the Inspirational Resource Committee wants to post weekly blogs to our website all for the purpose of helping you draw CLOSER to our God. Our responsibility as a group is to recommend godly resources that help you grow, mature, and continue to pursue a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. What better resource for this than the Bible! It is God’s precious letter to us. It is from the one who loves us deeply and wants us to spend the rest of our lives with Him! It is the source and foundation of many disciplines we need to pursue.
This year we will be using the acronym C.L.O.S.E.R.* to guide our writings and more importantly to encourage you in incorporating these spiritual endeavors into your daily lives.
C = Communicate with God through prayer
L = Learn to study and understand God’s Word
O = Obey
S = Store God’s word in your heart through memorization and meditation
E = Evangelize
R = Renew daily
Your writers will be our committee members: Valerie Fish, Susie Edgar, Jackie Ricks, and myself, Judy Wallace.
Join us weekly. Pray for us daily. Incorporate these disciplines regularly. It is what He has called us to do!
Scriptures to Read: James 4:8; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 119:10; Matthew 5:6
Prayer: “Father, You are our Rock, our Shield, our Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. You are Lord of all, our Creator, our Shepherd, and Your presence is always with us. Even Your names bring peace into our lives. Plus, there is the wonder that You loved us enough to send Your Son to die for us as unworthy as we are. How is it that You invite us into Your Presence? That You long to fellowship with us? That You want us close to Your heart and partakers of Your Spirit’s power? How is it that we would dare refuse Your invitation to draw closer; to take time to study Your word, hide it in our hearts and minds, and seek Your face as a daily True North to follow? We cannot follow Your words unless we know them so help us on this journey to draw CLOSER each day to You and Your path for our lives. Help us love You more so that we may obey You fully. In Christ’s precious name, Amen.”
Respond to God with your own prayer from what you have read today.
[*C.L.O.S.E.R. Was developed by Rob Gallaty in his discipleship series Growing Up, Firmly Planted, Bearing Fruit.]
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Enlistment Month 2022
- Individually invite each lady in your church to come to your meetings or Bible Study (in person, by telephone, text, or email)
- Have the meetings or Bible Study times printed in your church’s bulletin, Facebook Page, and website
- Promote the topic of your meeting or study with colorful posters placed in strategic places in the church
- Be excited about your ministry and share the things you are learning in conversations with those ladies not attending
- Look for ways your group can meet the needs of all the ladies in your church
- Poll the ladies of the church to see what they would like to get from your ministry
- Have an informal get-together with finger foods to let the ladies of the church become more personally acquainted
- Have special events such as Mother/Daughter teas, Valentine’s Banquets, painting parties, etc. to get the ladies interested in meeting together
- Make sure your meetings and Bible Studies are bathed in prayer and are structured to provide spiritual growth for each lady in attendance
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2022 Theme
Splash: Let Love Overflow!
2022 National Theme
Love in the Splash Zone
When our boys were younger, we went to Sea World a couple of times. There were so many fun things to do and see, but the most amazing to me were the shows. To think that people could train these animals to do tricks.
I remember a couple of shows had splash zone areas. These were areas, designated by painted lines and usually closer to the front, where the audience was sure to get wet. Well, really not just wet, some people got soaked.
I also remember that some people walked very quickly towards these areas, while others sat as far away from them as possible. Each audience member wanted to see the awesome show but not all of them wanted to “participate” in the water activities!
You will see this as you splash God’s love around. Some will welcome the refreshing shower of love. Others will try to stay away from it. They may say thank you or give you a hug but they just don’t get the joy of Christ’s love. They do not want to be in the splash zone.
Just like the animals at Sea World, don’t let that make you stop splashing. There will always be those that are hesitant to join in the splashing. But I have also noticed that sometimes those that don’t want to join in the splashing in the beginning will eventually warm up to it. They just want to see what it is all about before getting soaked.
God loves everyone and he wants all of us to join him in his Heavenly Kingdom. So, splash away: sing his praises, share his love, testify to his goodness. I pray that those around you will run to the splash zone and soak in the showers of his love.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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Reaching Women for Christ
- Is your women’s ministry intent on creating a welcoming atmosphere for the regular attenders as well as quests?
- Do you know what criterion first-time quests use to decide if they will return to your church next Sunday, or if they will return to a service after visiting your women’s ministry?
- What kinds of things draw them; what pushes them away?
- How do the women in your church relate to each other?
- What does a quest see when she walks in the door? Are there age-cliques?
- Does she overhear gossip? “. . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
- Are your women’s ministry programs intent on developing mature relationships with Christ even if it means stepping out of comfort zones?
- Is there involvement out of love for the Lord and others? “Now the God of peace . . . equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20-21).
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Pastor Appreciation Month
- Thank you for going to God on our behalf and praying for us daily.
- Thank you for studying God’s Word and communicating its truths to us in a compelling fashion.
- Thank you and your family for being willing to live in a fishbowl.
- Thank you for demonstrating grace, love and patience when people question your motives and competency. Sheep may be dumb, but they bite. And they have a taste for pastors and church staff.
- Thank you for putting in countless hours.
- Thank you for being men of impeccable character and integrity.
- Thank you to your spouses and children for their willingness to share you with us.
- Thank you for challenging and then helping us live a life of meaning and purpose.
- Thank you for presiding over the landmark moments of our lives—baptisms, weddings and funerals.
- Thank you for having the courage to tell us about the sin in our lives and our need for repentance and a Savior.
- Thank you for walking with us through tragedy, marital troubles, raising children and life’s great challenges.
- Thank you for the periodic phone calls, texts and emails just to see how we are doing.
- And most of all, thank you for not quitting each Monday.
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