It seems to me that we are living in a world where we are forced to call a lot of audibles.  It is hard to understand what is happening in our society.  Things that would change yearly or monthly are now changing daily.  We are constantly hearing about the changes that are taking place every day.

The game of life is much like the game of football.  We are in the game and there are those that are trying to defeat us.   Left to our own ability, we do not have much of a chance.  But the Lord looks down on the entire game and unlike the coach, he had a perfect understanding of what is going on in every situation.

The rules do not change and there are certain principles that lead us to victory.  It is important that we follow Biblical principles.

When we are in the midst of pressure, confusion, and change what are we to do?  Let me give you some ways we ought to respond.  They are not new but it helps us to focus on them again.

• We must remember that we are dependent upon Him
• Make prayer a priority in your life
• Be aware of other opportunities to invest in others
• Spend time regularly in the Word of God
• Be found faithful with your time, talent and tithes
• Make Bible Fellowship and Worship a priority. They will provide strength in times of challenge
• Make faithfulness the watchword of your life
• Never forget that we serve a risen Savior and no matter what the circumstance victory is ours.

Once again, I find it very interesting that the campaign starts in Washington, D.C.  The head of the association said that the purpose was not to argue the existence of God, but they were trying to plant a seed.  Make no mistake about it, they are trying to stamp out God and to certainly take Christ out of Christmas. This is a reminder to us that we cannot take what we believe for granted. Now is the time for us to be verbal and vigilant. It is important for us to be ready to defend what we believe.

A survery earlier this year found that 92 percent of Americans say they believe in God. While that may be the case, a major portion of America is certainly not acting that way. This once again provides for us an opportountiy to proclaim the truth.

In recent days, we have had best selling books by Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins promoting a new atheism.  There is nothing new about this atheism. It is still just a plain rebellion against God, only packaged differently.  This is a time for us to proclaim clearly, that Christmas is not just about love or peace or goodwill, but it is about God reaching out to mankind with the promise of salvation in His greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot let efforts like this pass by without taking the opportunity to proclaim our message clearly.

As I walked off the platform, I realized that no one in our church even knows this award exists. You do what you do because you love the Lord and because you want to see the world impacted for Christ. I can assure you that your presence, your time, your efforts, and your gifts make a tremendous difference. In the midst of great opportunities and great challenge, this is not a time for us to backup, individually or collectively. We should be standing strong and increasing our efforts to spread the Good News. God will continue to honor our faithfulness as we seek to honor Him.

One of the things that excited me the most yesterday was to think about the numbers of people who have served so faithfully. God has given to this family of faith a very special attitude of service. I can assure you that is not present everywhere. So we must remember to whom much is given much is required. A number of people stopped me yesterday and said “congratulations,” but I assure you that I understand that those words of affirmation don’t belong to me, but they belong to those that are so faithful in our fellowship.

Today as you pray, you need to pray for those who are serving us around the world, particular in Iraq and Afghanistan. While there are a great number of opinions about what is going on in this conflicts, their work is important. They do it out of a sense of responsibility and love for their country.  It is easy for us to second guess our leadership, but America has a responsibility around the world. I believe that when we show gratitude for our veterans and remember those who are presently serving, we also honor the Lord. It is certainly the proper and honorable for us to do, whether you have ever served in the service or not, or whether you have ever had a loved one serve, it is a privilege for all of us to show gratitude to those who have given so much.

The Christmas season is a very emotional and a very traditional time. There is a great deal of talk about love, caring, the love of Jesus and the importance of the birth of Christ. As believers, we are to be intent on sharing the whole gospel. Christmas is not just a sentimental holiday, it is a time when we celebrate God sending His son who ultimately died on the cross for our sin. We plan to use these days and opportunities to share the gospel aggressively.  People are looking for answers. They are not going to find it in political change, in economic prosperity or cultural opinion. They will find it only in Jesus Christ. It is important that we become prayer warriors.

In Jeremiah 29:13, it says  “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  That is exactly what we need to do. We need to search for Him with all of our heart.  The opportunity to be a part of this prayer ministry is going to be a very special part of this Christmas season.

First of all, I got to see some missionaries that have been with us in the past.  This is always a blessing.  They always ask about how our fellowship is doing and they always speak to me about the wonderful time they had in our midst.

Secondly, it is exciting to see how we have been able to have a small influence in other churches.  On a number of occasions, I have talked with Steve about our conference.  They have used a great deal of what we do.  I also got to see Alan and Lisa Bishop who were in our church a number of years ago.  They are serving in a leadership capacity in that missions ministry and we were able to make an investment in them.

Thirdly, I got the chance to see a number of people who had been in our church in the past and have moved to Rock Hill and are a part of that church.  They are serving in a number of different capacities.

And I got the chance to challenge and encourage that great church to be involved in touching the world through missions.  It reminded me of how blessed we are with such a committed group of believers and how the Lord has not only given us a great opportunity here, but also in the lives of others as we invest in individuals as well as churches.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to do these types of events.  I am always aware of the fact that the reason they ask me to do it is because of what you have done.

I always look forward to Sunday and this is going to be a great week, but this experience heightened my expectations and excitement.

Our political forefront is going to change completely. The desire to protect unborn human beings has suffered a great loss in this election. On many occasions President Elect Obama has expressed his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. This is a significant blow to the prolife movement. I believe it also strikes at the heart of our character as a nation. The polls repeatedly show that America’s greatest concern is with our own economic well being. This is now an opportunity for us to continue to stand for the principles from the Word of God upon which our nation was founded. We are to respect and honor our new president in obedience to Biblical command. I have prayed for President Elect Obama this morning and will continue to pray that God will lead him in the right direction as he faces the overwhelming challenges before us.

It is imperative as followers of Jesus Christ we become proactive. The American people have spoken. It is our responsibility to be prayer warriors and continue to declare the truth of the gospel. Real change or significant change is not going to come as a result of political realignment. The change that we need will only come as people become serious about a return to God’s truth in their personal lives. My prayer is that God will see that in our lives beginning today and that we will meet the challenge and see real change as we share the gospel with a world that is in rebellion against Him. I pray that our nation will once again be what it can be and I pray that we as Christians will stand up and make a difference for the cause of Christ.

While I love our country, my faith is certainly not in a political system, candidate, or party. My faith is in Him.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must always remember that we are involved in this process in obedience to Him. I pray that we might make the right decisions, but regardless of the outcome, I will pray for our leaders and for our country that somehow through all of this, we might have a greater commitment as a people to the principles to which we were founded.

As I said on Sunday, elections take on a different perspective when you serve a king; and with high expectations and great confidence, I am putting my trust in Him.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”  - Proverbs 14:34

“Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with the truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  Ephesians 6:10-17

This election should be about character.  It should be about our values and our moral stands.  Yet you have not heard anything like that mentioned in weeks.  We are to pray for our leaders.  We have a tendency to choose them on the basis of our own selfish desires rather than their values.  This is a real problem that will not go away with this election no matter who is elected.

For us as believers, this is not the end of the process, it is the beginning.  Righteousness does exalt a nation.  If we expect God to honor our land, we must pray for revival.  We live in a country with so much potential, but we are drifting in terms of our character.  On this Election Day, we need to pray that somehow God will begin once again to work in our nation.  Our prayers are not limited by the polls or opinions.  In the coming days we must be found faithful in praying that God will do whatever He has to do in order that we might return to Him as a nation.

“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power.  Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;  they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” - Isaiah 40:28-31

For years we have been hearing about this election every day.  Over the last year, it has been the dominant story in the news.  They have tried to convince us that all of the answers can be found in the election tomorrow.  It is important for us as Americans to pay attention to the political process, but we must not forget that the Lord is our source of strength.  No matter who is elected at any level, we must put our confidence in the Lord.

The people of God must be prayer warriors.  Our strength is not in our political system but our dependence on Him as a people.  Pray that we will maintain a proper perspective.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?  The voice of the Lord will call to the city and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name.” - Micah 6:8-9

We have seen thousands of political spots and we have heard promise after promise.  In the world of politics they constantly appeal to the selfishness and greed in our country.  We have heard the promises,  but  poll after poll tells us that we are not hearing anything new and that we have very little confidence in those promises.  We are a divided nation.

We must pray that the Lord is going to bring us together as a nation, but It is obvious that it will not be around a promise, a motto, a speech, or a slogan.
As believers we should pray that God will give to us the will, the strength, and the character to do what we can, should and must do.  Micah tells us that we are to be just, love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.  Pray today that God will give us the grace and the ability to show the rest of the world what it means to walk with God.  That is a real contribution to society.

“Thus says the Lord, Who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, who brings forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the mighty men(They will lie down together and not rise again: they have been quenched and extinguished like a wick):  Do not call on the former things, or ponder things of the past.  Behold I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:16-19

What a wonderful privilege it is to be able to bring our requests to the Lord.  We have a tendency to respond to the circumstances around us.  We must keep our eyes on the Lord.  I heard this week that as of October 26, there have been 177 political polls taken on the presidency since October 1.  We have plenty of forecasters telling us what is going to happen in the election, the economy, the nation, and the world.  It is hard to know what to believe.

You can be sure of this.  We serve a great God that has given eternal life to those who put their trust in Jesus.  You do not need a poll to remind you of that.  He wants to do some exciting things in and through our lives.
Let us pray today that we will be available to used by God in whatever way He wants to use us.  We stand ready to serve Him.  Let us pray and get excited about God doing a new thing.  He is not limited.  He can use any circumstance.  He can put a super-highway in the wilderness and He can put a raging river in the driest desert.  Today, let us pray that we stand ready to be a part of it.

This Sunday night we are going to have a very special service which will include some fantastic music featuring our choir, orchestra, and quartet. It will be built around praying for our nation. This is not about candidates or polls. It is about the direction of our country and it is about us doing all we can as believers to make a difference in our society.

The power of prayer is an incredible force and God’s desire is to hear from His people. As we gather together to pray, we do it in obedience to Him and it is a very clear witness to our families and to others around us.  I want to encourage you to make a special effort to be in this service on Sunday evening at 6:00. I want you to bring your kids because we want them to be a part of this effort. I want to encourage you to invite people in your neighborhood and people who work with you to come and be a part of this effort as we focus on such an important time in the life of our country.

During these weeks of prayer, I have had many wonderful comments on this prayer effort and God has used so many of you to touch the lives of others through this effort. My prayer is that we will finish strong and do all that we can to proclaim clearly what our priorities should be as a nation.

In the book of Nehemiah, he evaluates the status of the city and gives a report to the people.  “Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire.  Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”  I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me.  Then they said, “let us arise and build.”  So they put their hands to the good work.”

We are in the middle of a war and we have an economic crisis.  Our country is moving towards becoming a moral wasteland.  It is time for our people to put aside their selfish desires and put our hands to the good work of praying for our country to return to God.  Christians must be the model.  We can no longer wait for someone else to take the lead.

It is in the hands of those that will fully trust Him.  Pray that our people will do what is right despite the hundreds of millions that have been spent to shape our opinion.  Pray that we will look past opinion polls and the opinions of media pundits.  Pray that in our lives today that we will do what is right rather than what we want or desire.  Ask the Lord to help us do the same as a country.

“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13

In so many areas of life we have tried to do things our way.  We have done that as individuals and we have done that as a country.  The result is that we end up in rebellion against God.

Our task must be to seek Him.  Everyone has an opinion of what should be done but our real task should be to seek Him with all our heart.  The Lord is looking for prayer warriors.  He is looking for a people that will be serious about finding the will of God for their lives.

Our country is in great need of those that will pray without ceasing.  We need to pray that God will give us leaders that will be more than those that have won an election.

Whether you agree with them or not, you have the responsibility to pray for our leaders.  In some cases we need to pray that God will either change their heart or limit their influence.  As we look toward a new election, pray for our present leaders that they will use every moment effectively.

When Wendy gave me the manuscript, I took it home and read it that night.  I could not put it down.  She did a great job writing the story.  I was reminded of how so many in our church loved them and prayed for them during this time.  I am so grateful for what God has done and continues to do in their family and ministry.

She had been thinking about publishing the book and the next morning I called her and gave her my humble, but accurate opinion.  “Wendy, you have to publish this right now.”

“The Grace By Which We Stand” is a great read and you will be challenged and encouraged as you read it.  I asked her to let us make it available to you.  She only has a few copies left from the first printing, but they will be available in the foyer after each service as long as they last.  I would encourage you to stop by and get one.  You will not be disappointed.  No matter what type of storm you may have experienced in your life, this story will speak to you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” - Proverbs 3:5-7

We are less than one week away from the election.  We hear about voter fraud.  The spots are becoming more and more ugly.  The overriding issue is the economy.  They appeal to our greed and try to stack that on top of our fear.  It seems that we have now gone into the business of selling out our principles.

We are a society that is focused on immediate gratification.  That is why the news cycles can literally be only hours long.  We have lost a sense of the eternal.  In light of scripture, it is obvious that the American people have their priorities out of line.

Before we can call others to account, we must examine the priorities of our personal lives.  We must acknowledge Him in all our ways.  Our purpose is to give glory to Him.  Ask the Lord today to help you to see these issues with His eyes rather than your own.  Ask Him to give to you a sense of boldness in declaring the fact that there are some things more important than our own personal wishes.

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.  On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”  - I Timothy 4:7-10

We spend most of our time reacting to what we hear rather than being proactive on the basis of the truth.  That is the reason that we are on a rollercoaster in so many areas of life.  We are reacting to the latest rumor or report.  Much of this information is like the worldly fables that Paul talks about in this passage.
No matter what circumstance we face, we must fix our attention and hope on the living God.  As you pray today for the future of our nation, pray with a confidence that is rooted in an all-powerful God rather than praying out of an attitude of alarm.  Today, come boldly before the throne of God and plead for our nation.

With that blessing comes a great responsibility.  We have the responsibility of praying for them, loving them, encouraging them, and supporting them as they seek to follow God’s will for their lives in ministry.  Scott spoke last night about how meaningful and important it was for him to know that people are praying for him.  This will be a night that he and Wendy will never forget, but it also should be a time of remembrance for us.

God blesses our church when He touches the hearts and lives of people who are willing to give their lives both in home and foreign lands.  Many of you know that Scott has a fulltime ministry, Impact Sports, which uses sports to share the gospel around the world.  They also work part time on our church staff directing our college ministry and some very exciting things are happening in that area. God has and is using them in a great way.  You may not know them well, but if you are a part of our fellowship you can be excited, and proud and expectant about what God is going to do with them in the future. This is a time that is exciting for the church because it will only broaden our opportunities to share the gospel. When we look at the culture in which we live, expanding those opportunities is more important than it has even been before.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  - I Timothy 2:1-4

We are eight days away from the election.  This scripture is clear that we are to pray for our leaders.  We are told to do likewise in Romans 13.  Right now the American people are spending all of their time evaluating the candidates for every office.  We should be praying that we will select leadership that will lead us in a direction that God would have us to go.  It is not about who promises me the most or who lines up with my ideas and philosophy.  That is not a Christian way of looking at voting.  We should be praying that our leaders will reflect Biblical principles.

None of these candidates are perfect.  They are a reflection of the American public.  In many cases that is very troubling.  It is easy for us to follow our own desires and then try to get God to justify our selection.  God will never fit into our mold!

Let us pray for our personal lives, our families, our church, and our nation that we might seek to fit into his plan for our lives.  Our country is in turmoil because we have done the opposite.  Ask the Lord to help us in turning that around beginning today.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” - Titus 2:11-14

If we are to once again be one nation under God with a heart of Him, then revival must first of all begin in our hearts and lives.  This means that we begin with personal repentance.  Our desire must be much more than just the blessing of God.  There are many that are encouraging us to pray because we need what God has to offer.
We do need what God has to offer but first of all, we need Him.  Our first desire should not be for national peace and security, economic  growth, or just happiness.  Our first desire must be to know Him in a very real way.  Our desire should be to know God in a more meaningful and powerful way.

As we study the Bible together today, and worship the Lord, let us pray that we will know Him better.  We do not gather together so that God will give us what we want.  We gather together in order that we might give glory to Him.  If that is the case, then and only then will be know the blessing of God as we come to Him in prayer.

“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”  - Romans 1:22-25

Here is a very clear picture of where we are as a country.  We have become so arrogant we believe that we can solve any problem.  In Romans we see a very clear definition of secular humanism.

It is easy for us to make a list of all the things that are wrong with our culture.  The bottom line is that we are exchanging the truth of God for a lie.  We have decided to put our trust in ourselves.  Our country is facing a very important election.  We have spent so much time thinking about what is “best” for us that we have neglected to think about what is right.  The answer is not to be found in a person, a party or an election.  It is found in trusting Him.

As we pray today let us claim the truth found in Psalm 118:8-9.  “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

It was a thrill to see our people work so hard to set it up.  That is no easy task and takes a great deal of work.

It was a thrill to see those children having a great time and learning that church is a place to have a great time.

It was a thrill to talk to channel 7 and have a chance to tell people what we are trying to do in the name of the Lord. I appreciate them covering it.

It was a thrill to hear the appreciation of so many thanking us for providing such an opportunity for families.

It was a thrill to see so many faces we have never seen before.  We have now had a contact and our prayer is that will be the seed for us to touch them with the gospel.

It was a thrill for me to talk to people I had never met and as we talked, the conversation moved to our reason for doing it.  I was then able to share that we have a bigger agenda.  We want people to know that Jesus is the answer.

It was a thrill to see people share their talents during the entertainment sessions.

It was a thrill to see people relax when we live in a time of such great pressure.

It was a thrill to see hundreds of people man those stations and games so unselfishly and with such a great attitude using their time and ability to invest in others.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it.

It was a thrill to see people stay and get the job done.  The faithfulness of our family members cannot be overstated.  It was a great evening that honored the Lord  in a very creative way.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:20-21

Because we have heard so many times that we are one nation under God, we make the assumption that we know what to do.  We think that it comes naturally to us as a country.  When we pay attention to God’s word, He has made it clear to us.  That is what it says here in Romans 1.  We are without excuse.

Let us pray today that we will see His word and His principles as more than just suggestions or good advice.  Let us pray that it will begin with us.  Ask the Lord to help you take seriously His direction in every area of our lives, not just the ones that are convenient.

Pray for our church that we will be clear as we try to communicate His truth to a lost world.

Pray for our nation that we might know true revival which must begin with God’s people.  Ask the Lord to help us turn to Him as a people.

There will be a lot of enjoyment and a lot of laughter.  The kids will have a good time and so many parents will be grateful to have the opportunity to bring their kids here.

They will see how our people care for them and they will be impressed to see the efforts that our people put forth to serve others.

Don’t forget that this is also an opportunity to plant the seed for sharing the gospel.  Please be much in prayer that God will use every part of the festival to touch hearts and lives.  The Lord can use anything that He wants to use.  The key is our willingness and availability.

I am so grateful for all those in our fellowship that will be here, work so hard and serve so unselfishly.

As I began to go item by item down the list, I realized that chorus being on my mind made me more aggressive and productive.

What will be the attitude of your life today?  What will be the message that you communicate during the day?  Will you spend your day reacting to difficult circumstances or will you follow the words of Scripture, “let the redeemed of the Lord say so”  How can you say it?

You can say it with your conversation.  Your words send a very clear message to those around you.

You can say it with your actions.  Do they reflect the priority that the Lord should be in your life?  Can people see that your life is committed to your redeemer?

You can say it with your investments.  I am not talking about the stock market.  I am talking about the investment that you make for the Lord in the lives of people. When we use our resources to invest in the kingdom, there is a tremendous profit.

You can say it with your service.  Who are you planning to touch today for the glory of the Lord?   In a world that is built on looking out for number 1, you can show the love of our redeemer  to others.

You can say it with your witness.  Starting where we live, we are to go into all the world in order to share the gospel.  If you are a follower of Christ,  “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said. “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah: but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” - Matthew 16:13-16

We are living in a time of great stress and pressure. In recent days our people have been overwhelmed with bad news on so many fronts. In so many cases they are looking for answers and they do not know where to find them. Until someone can share the truth with them, they will continue to look for some type of relief.

There will be many here tonight that are doing just that. This can be a time of relaxation away from the challenges and stress of everyday life. It is also a chance for them to be exposed to the truth that Jesus is really the only answer.

Jesus died for every single person so every person is important to the Lord. As we think about the future of our country and our culture, we must understand that things will be renewed and transformed one person at the time.

As you pray today remember our leaders and all the decisions that will affect our political future, our national security, our moral character and our economy. We face major challenges but we serve a great God who expects us to keep in mind the big picture.

Pray that God will give you the chance this evening to in some way make a difference in the life of one of those that attend the festival. Pray that the Lord will use our family of faith as a tool to connect people in our community and beyond to the Lord.

Pray that people all across this country will be drawn to a greater dedication to serving the Lord. Remember, it is all connected!

These people are supposedly giving us the very best information.  We have so many questions and they are giving us all the answers.  It would probably be a good idea for us to go on a “media fast.”   It would probably help us clear our head and get a better perspective.  We face many problems both personal and public, but the news is not all bad.  There are many opportunities for us as believers to say a word and make a difference for the Lord.  People will soon begin to discover that He is the only one that they can turn to with complete confidence.

In so many cases we are willing to try everything  but what works most effectively and that is prayer.   While the rest of the world is on the verge of information overload, we need to be focusing on what God has to say to us.  That only happens as we spend time in His word and in Prayer.

Every day I have comments from those that are participating in our “30 days of Prayer” emphasis.  I am hearing  from people outside our fellowship.  aWe must be found faithful and encourage others to do the same.  Let’s try something a little different for the American people.  Let’s Pray

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ” - Matthew 5:13-15

Tomorrow night thousands of people will be on our campus as they participate in our fall festival.  These people will be from every walk o f life.  Please join us in praying that the Lord will use this to give us the chance to share the gospel with many of these people tomorrow as well as in the future.

Our people will be working in every possible way to make it go smoothly.  You might ask, “What does this have to do with praying for our country?”  The answer is that we start with the opportunities that God gives to us.  He is in the business of using every detail and every task in order to accomplish His purposes.

The Lord loves all of those that will be here and by serving in Jesus’ name we make an impact on our world that can have ongoing results for His glory.  Our expectation and desire should be that a great movement of God will begin as we seek to make a difference for Him.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His Kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  II Timothy 4:1-4

Today pray for the leaders in the life of our church.  Lift up our staff as they meet today.  Ask the Lord to give us guidance as we seek to serve this church.  Pray that God will keep us close and keep us clean.

Pray for our lay leaders in every area of our ministry.  Pray that God will remind us of our responsibilities in the body of Christ.  It is so easy for us to think that someone else will do what needs to be done.  As a part of the body, there is no one that can take your place.

When our leaders are in tune with His work and direction, we are a better reflection to the world and therefore have a better opportunity to make a difference in our culture.  It starts with our leaders in the church. Everyone plays a part.

I was reminded of the fact that there are so many things that are trying to get the attention of our kids; therefore, the attention of parents. We involve our kids in many things in order to improve their skill level and give them greater opportunity. While much of this can be very profitable, sometimes a price has to be paid in terms of involvement in Christian growth. Our Upward Program gives them the opportunity to do several things. It teaches them the basics of the particular sport and the importance of being on a team. It shows them very clearly the connection between competition and principles of the Word of God. By having your child involved in a program like Upward, you are saying very clearly to them that the things of God are very important to you as a parent. We don’t have to speak to send very clear messages to our children many times. It is important that we always be on our guard not to let “good things” get in the way of their development for the Lord. In Upward, we are not just interested in their developing this season or next season, and while that is certainly one of the goals, we are interested in building a foundation that will make a difference for a lifetime. These kids learn things that stay with them. Those of us that are parents, no matter the age of the children, we constantly need to be praying that God will put people in their lives that will unapologetically, clearly and forcefully share the principles of the Christian life with them. Our culture has proven that “being around good folks” is not enough. We should also intentionally make sure that they are involved in programs that will accomplish the goal of building their life in Christ.

Our registration has begun for Upward basketball and Upward cheerleading. If you have a child in one of those age groups, you certainly want them to be a part of it. If you know someone in your neighborhood or work that has a child in that age group, you would do them a favor by recommending our Upward program to them.

Last night I was proud of our kids, proud of our coaches, and grateful for parents who have made it a priority to have them involved.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  - Romans 12:1-2

It is easy for us to pray that God will do something in the life of someone else.  We are to pray for our leaders and we certainly need to do that in our country.  America still had the potential to change the world for the good.  That will never happen if we continue to live with a humanist, ungodly mentality.   Conformity is becoming a way of life for Americans.

As we pray today, ask the Lord to do something  new and fresh in your life.  It might be in the area of your quiet time or your use of your resources.  It may mean that you reach out someone in a way that takes you out of your comfort zone.  When we seek to be a living sacrifice, God does some really incredible things in and through us.  When we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, God has used us in a mighty way.  It won’t be easy so ask God open that door of opportunity and then without hesitation, walk right through it.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

We live in a world that is so often ruled by emotion.  We are fearful and that causes us to live with a sense of panic.  We do not know what to do.  Every day we see people dealing with serious personal problems.  Perhaps it is happening in our own life.  While the news is filled with word of the election, the economy, and the war, many people around us are so fearful of what is happening in their personal lives, they hardly notice.

God says one of the tools that He gives to us to fight this type of fear is discipline.  Another translation uses the term sound mind.  We are not to live in a panic.  When we live in the discipline of the Lord, we have a sound mind and we are able to see clearly what is happening and make sound decisions.  In an election year, they will tell you anything to get your vote.  They appeal to our selfishness and to our greed.  Because of the economy, as a country we have a tendency to sell out on the critical issues of our time that in every way defines who we are as a people.

In our worship services and Bible fellowship classes today, we will study the principles of the word of God.  Pray that we as individuals and as a church will live with discipline and a sound mind built upon the principles of His Word.

Paul says in Ephesians 4:14, “we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” What a description that is of our present situation.

Pray today that we will use that discipline that comes from Him in order to fight the fear that seeks to control our lives.

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

Today we continue to pray about the fear that is in our lives.  We need to replace that fear with faith and then we can know victory no matter what the circumstance.  God says that one of the tools that is used is love.  When fear rules your life, there is no room to show love for God or anyone else.

Today, remember that God has shown His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The scripture repeatedly tells us of His love for us.  Because of that love, we do not have to live in fear.
Love for Him and those around us is one of the weapons that God provides for us to fight the concept of fear.  There are people during an election that are in the business of making us afraid.

There are many things that we cannot do, but today we can show our love for God as we lift our prayers to Him.  We can also show the love of Jesus to those around us.  In times of great stress people notice when they see a person who is so obviously committed to Christ.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7

As we look at our lives and the future of our country, we have a tendency to live in a spirit of fear.  We have so many questions and no answers.  People are spending all of their time reacting to the circumstances of the moment.  The Lord knows our every need.  He knows the needs of our country.  People have the feeling of being powerless, not just in terms of our country, but in their personal lives as well.  For the believer, the exact opposite is true.

Jesus tells us in Acts 1:8 that we will receive power when we give our lives to Him.  Power is not dependent upon our ability, our resources, or our intellect.  It is dependent on the power to be proactive in any situation because of our relationship with the Lord Jesus.  Pray today that we will exhibit His power in our lives in our church and in the life of our country.

He was down town and he ran into a man that he had known. They started talking, and of course the subject turned to the economy, the election, the condition of our country, etc. This man was expressing great uncertainty about the future. Our deacon just responded to him “It is tough out there, but I am so glad I have a firm foundation and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everyone is looking at these circumstances, but I am going to put my trust in Him.” They concluded the conversation and went their own way. Sometime later in the day, he ran into the man again. The man said to him, “I have been thinking about what you said about having a firm foundation and it seems to me that you are really serious about that firm foundation in Jesus Christ and I want you to tell me about that.” Our deacon proceeded to share the gospel with that man, share scripture, and sent him on his way with a clear witness.

There are opportunities like that around us every day. They are probably more prevalent now than they have been in a long time. I shared that with those in our “I Tell The Story” class last evening. We are finding that to be true as we make our visits. This is just a reminder that this is not only a time of great pressure, but a time of great opportunity as well. People keep looking for answers and it is time for the people of God to take a stand.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7

This is a word that you are hearing a lot about. People have fear about what is going to happen in their lives, with their families, and with our society. When we hear bad news every day from the media, it causes us to be fearful. That fear is not of God. It is a sure sign that our focus is in the wrong direction. We are going to have some fear, but we must not let it dominate our lives, because God has something else for us.

As you pray today, pray for the confidence that God gives for your life, the life of your family, and for those in the Christian community. While we are not na

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  - Matt. 28:18-20

As we pray for our own lives, our church and our nation, we must never lose sight of our mission as believers.  No matter what happens in the election, or the markets, or the economy or in foreign relations, we have the responsibility to touch a world where literally billions have never heard the name of Jesus.  If we really believe that those who do not know Christ spend an eternity separated from God, then no matter what the circumstances, we must always have reaching the lost on our minds.  You may not be able to do anything personally about the circumstances in our country, but we can be prayer warriors and we can take advantage of the opportunities that God gives us to tell our story.  Ask Him to give you that opportunity today.

She was not due for several months but they lost the twins about a week ago. We first heard about it through the Bible Fellowship class they were assigned. I saw John last night and had the chance to talk with him. I told him that we would continue to pray for them and for their family. He had a tremendous attitude. They have put their trust in the Lord and He is giving them the strength to walk through this time of loss. In their ministry, they are on the cutting edge all the time but they have learned to be completely dependent on Him. As I listened to him speak, he mentioned that they had stayed in touch with people in that Bible Fellowship class.

There are several things that this incident brings to my mind.

1. God is faithful. He is going to bring something good out of this time of loss. We do not understand but we know we can trust Him. We need to keep that more at the forefront of our thinking.
2. That Bible Fellowship class made a different. They were able to touch the life of that young couple with their prayers and support during a time of need. There are people all around us that need that same type of care and attention. If you pay attention, you will see them every day. I personally have run into two already today.
3. Your prayers make a difference. You might say “We asked God to protect them.” Yes we did, but we also have to put our trust in Him and acknowledge that our thoughts are not His thoughts. He loved those kids and He loves that family. Our task is to be faithful in prayer.
4. As I listened to John, I was reminded that we need to keep the big picture before us. The world we live in will seek to make us focus on those things right in front of us but we are a part of a bigger agenda as children of the King.

“Why should I fear in days of adversity, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, even those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches?. . For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations: They have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.” - Psalm 49:5-6,10-12

Here is a picture of a society that has put its trust in what it has. That is certainly a description of our society. They continue to talk of a worldwide recession. To man that thinks only of things that is truly frightening, but we must remember that God is not shocked at these problems. In so many instances this is due to our own selfishness as a culture. It is time for us to do more than talk about trust. We must once again understand that everything that we have belongs to Him. He is the one the provides for us. On this day let us pray that we as believers and we as a country will take on more trusting relationship with Him. It must be more than talk. We are continually interested in what the markets are doing. We should be praying that we will hear and respond to the word of the Lord in our lives.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;   Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”  Psalm 46:1-3

We are a culture that feeds on bad news.  We like to blame this on the media but all the studies show that this is what we are interested in on a daily basis.  We have a tendency to believe that the challenges that we face both as individuals and as a country are overwhelming.  We have to choose  to be dependent on Him.  As you pray today, remember that now is the time for us to pray that we will be totally devoted to Him.  The only answer is revival!  That must begin in the hearts His people.  As you