Pray With Conviction

FAITH:

Mark 11:15-12:12

How do you pray a prayer so filled with faith that it can move a mountain? By shifting the focus from the size of your mountain to the sufficiency of the mountain mover; and by stepping forward in obedience. . .

While the children of Israel are perched on the edge of the Promised Land, twelve spies go out to survey it. Ten come back saying, "You wouldn't believe the size of the cities, the armies, the giants. We'd better look somewhere else." Two come back saying, "The God who is faithful promised He would give us the land, so let's go in His strength." Ten looked at the size of the mountain and fell back; only two looked at the sufficiency of the mountain mover and wanted to move forward . . . .

I challenge you to shift the focus of your prayer. Don't spend a lot of time describing your mountain to the Lord. He knows what it is. Instead, focus your attention on the mountain mover---His glory, power and faithfulness. Then start walking in faith, following his leading, and watch that mountain step aside. by Bill Hybels
Applying it: How does God want us to ask Him for what we need? In what remarkable ways has God answered your prayers? Make a list of them.

The Lord is close to everyone
who prays to him,
to all who truly pray to him.
He gives those who respect him what they want.
He listens when they cry, and he saves them
Psalms 145:18-19

FRIENDS:

Father, You have promised that I may come to You with confidence and You will hear my prayer. Let the confidence of Your promise shine through my life in everything I do. Let my trust in You speak boldly to those whom You have given me to cherish. Let each day begin with the knowledge that only through You can we have the peace that passes all understanding and the reward of everlasting life with you. In Jesus' name, Amen

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~JULY~

9. Luke 9:18-27; Col 4:10-18; Psalms 133-134; 1 Chron 20-22
10. Luke 9:28-36; 1 Thessalonians 1; Psalms 135; 1 Chron 23-25
11. Luke 9:37-50; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-9; Psalms 136; 1 Chron 26-29

~FIRST THESSALONIANS~
In the third century, St. Cyprian wrote to a friend named Donatus:

This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wide lands, ou know very well what I would see; brigands on the high road, pirates on the seas, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please the applauding crowds, under all roofs misery and selfishness. It really is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world.
Yet, in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. they are despised and persecuted, but they care not. they have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians . . .and I am one of them.
(Gordon MacDonald, Forging a Realworld Faith)

What a compliment! A quiet and holy people. Is there any phrase which captures the essence of the faith any better? A quiet and holy people.
Quiet.
Not obnoxious. Not boastful. Not demanding. Just quiet. contagiously quiet.
Holy.
Set apart. Pure Decent. Honest. Wholesome. Holy. A quiet and holy people.
Paul urges the same from us.
"Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business. and do your own work as we have already told you. If you do, then people who are not believers will respect you, and you will not have to depend on others for what you need" (4:11, 12)
A quiet and holy people. That describes the church in Thessalonica. May that describe the church today. by Max Lucado

FOOD:

Calico Bean Casserole
6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled (reserve bacon drippings)
1 cup chopped onions
1 16oz can pork & beans
1 16oz can kidney beans, drained
1 16oz can lima beans, drained
1lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 cup catsup
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp cider vinegar

Saute onions in bacon drippings, or cook w/ground beef to save time. Combine all ingredients in 2qt casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 45 mintues.

FUN:

God's Problem Now.
His wife's grave side service was just barely finished, when there was a massive clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning,
accompanied by even more thunder rumbling in the distance. The little old man looked at the pastor and calmly said, 'Well, she's there.