Prayer

 Just pay attention, then patch
  a few words together and don't try
  to make them elaborate, this isn't 
  a contest but the doorway
  into thanks, and a silence in which
  another voice may speak.

--Mary Oliver

Spurgeon on private prayer, fight thru the Old English---worth it

“Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.”

Genesis 24:63
 

Very admirable was his occupation. If those who spend so many hours in idle company, light reading, and useless pastimes, could learn wisdom, they would find more profitable society and more interesting engagements in meditation than in the vanities which now have such charms for them. We should all know more, live nearer to God, and grow in grace, if we were more alone. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found Rebecca while engaged in private musings; many others have found their best beloved there.

Very admirable was the choice of place. In the field we have a study hung round with texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean, but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once be hallowed.

Very admirable was the season. The season of sunset as it draws a veil over the day, befits that repose of the soul when earthborn cares yield to the joys of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder, and the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go forth to meet him.

spurgeon morning devotion for August 15

Prayer Week--Sanctuary open 6-8am & 4-8pm Mon-Fri

As we approach some new initiatives (2 service schedule, new zeal towards education/training hour) we will pursue praying together.

Of course one can pray anywhere and everywhere.  This week, we thought it might be helpful to give you opportunity to pray in the sanctuary.


Envisioned was
-- families dropping by and dropping to their collective knees and saying, "Jesus, build your Church--and use us to do it."
-- folks walking from parking lot to the building and remembering, "Oh yeh, I think THAT friend of mine might appreciate an invite to one of the 2 services."
-- much more

Our greatest danger

“Our greatest danger is not liberalism, modernism, postmodernism, bible criticism.... the greatest danger is the church doing the work of the ministry in the power of the flesh.”  


 --Francis Schaeffer

Prayer Study for tonite's officer meeting

The Aroma of Prayer

Something happens to believers’ prayers when we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name. As our prayers reach heaven, it is as though angels sprinkle perfume on our prayers, making them smell good. They become delectable, delightful things which our heavenly Father is thrilled to receive.

But what is this incense? The incense, the perfume, the fragrance put onto our prayers is actually the merits, the worthiness of life and particularly the atoning death of Jesus in our place.

When we pray it is as though our prayers are taken through the wounds of Christ’s body. They are made acceptable, they are made beautiful, they are made fragrant, they are incensed, they are made things of power. This is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. It is not just a ritual, not merely a form. It is more than that.

It is a way of saying, "Lord, hear me through the merits, through the worthiness, through the death, through the wounds of Your Son. Perfume my prayers as they pass through the holes in His hands and feet. Make them worthy. Cause all my worship and all my desires to serve Thee worthy through what He has done in my place."

- Doug Kelly

Calvin images prayer as drawing on a treasure that we've been given...

Book III, chapter 20, section 1,

“To know God as the Master and Bestower of all good things and not to go to Him
and ask of Him,
this would be of as little profit as for a man to neglect a treasure buried and hidden in the earth after it had been pointed out to him.”

God the Heavenly Banker

God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; he intended that they should be used. God's gold is not miser's money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, "Lord, do as thou hast said." We glorify God when we plead his promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches he has promised? Do you dream that he will be any the less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine he will be any the less pure for washing you from your sins? He has said "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not delay, saying, "This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?" but it goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, "Lord, here is the promise, 'Do as thou hast said.'" Our Lord replies, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt." When a Christian grasps a promise, if he does not take it to God, he dishonours him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries, "Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, 'Thou hast said it;'" then his desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash his own notes. Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your importunately reminding him of his promises. He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls. It is his delight to bestow favours. He is more ready to hear than you are to ask. The sun is not weary of shining, nor the fountain of flowing. It is God's nature to keep his promises; therefore go at once to the throne with "Do as thou hast said." --Spurgeon

George Washington

Last week i was reading a book with my 6yr old, i think it was called, THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF VIRTUES... and it had a nice little thing about how George Washington was fighting a losing cause early in the war. GW goes out to pray and some fellow overheard his prayers and returned home to his wife and said:

The colonists will win the war. I have just heard George Washington praying and God will answer his prayers because he is so brave. Now, I love George Washington... and i'm glad (and proud) to be an American... but i couldn't let that go. I asked: Do you think God answers his prayers because he was brave? Why would God listen to anyone? I recommended Jesus to my son as his (and his dad's!) only hope, but not very eloquently. Well, here is what I should have told my son:

“It is the gospel that makes prayer possible. Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, by whom justification and sanctification are promised, is also the Mediator who makes your prayers accepted by the Father (Hebrews 4:15-16). The Holy Spirit, who gives you the new birth, who unites you to Christ, who sanctifies you, and who shows you the things of Christ, is a Spirit of prayer (Zechariah 12:10, Galatians 4:6). He is like a fire inflaming your soul, and He makes you mount upward in prayer to God. Prayerless people are dead to God('s goodness and power).”

--Walter Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

Prayer

The simple idea of today and the next two is for us to pray--- Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done-- with renewed concentration. And may God give us grace to pray for large advances of His Kingdom...

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
       Jesus loves to answer prayer;
       He Himself has bid thee pray,
       Therefore will not say thee nay.

       Thou art coming to a King,
       Large petitions with thee bring;
       For His grace and pow'r are such
       None can ever ask too much.            --John Newton

Sunday Prayer Meeting 9am

After Friday night together being envisioned on the hoped-for future of CCC....
there is a Kingdom-Prayer Meeting IN THE MORNING at 9am in the Media Center/Library of Oak Hall.

We will use the prayer Jesus gave us as our model. If you fear that it will include:
--you being pressured to offer a long & loud spontaneous prayer
--someone droning on and on

by the grace of God.... it won't. We will pray in large & small groups... for God to come in power to renew & revive us, Gainesville, and UF with His grace.

Corporate Prayer

On Sunday morning, August 26th we will have a prayer meeting that runs from 9am til 9:40.
Why on 26th? Kicking off the Fall seeking God's power
What will happen? You will be led through the Lord's Prayer and the Vision Night plans of Christ Community Church...
(It will not be you listening to someone else pray for 5 minutes uninterrupted!)

You will not be:
-- forced to pray aloud
-- disappointed that you came