101 Ways to Praise...Part 4

16. 5 minuets per day - get a timer and use it to pray for 5 minuets for your family, spouse, kids, work, church, President, Congressmen, etc. This can be a time packed with powerful prayer.

17. 7 x 7 - this one comes from the National day of Prayer Task Force: Set aside time in your day, everyday, to pray for the 7 seats of power and influence in our nation. They are, government, military, media, business, education, church, and family. Visit www.ndptf.org for more information, tips, and scriptures for participating in 7 x 7.

18. Sing - this sounds elementary and even silly, but go with me for a second. When you're praying (for most of us it's silent prayer, right?) do songs or choruses ever come to mind? The next time that happens, sing it out. Allow God's Spirit to lead you in your prayer time, and just see what he brings to your mind.

19. Sing a new Song! - God's word often encourages us to sing to him a new song. After you're tried singing songs that come to mind try allowing God to lead you in a new song of praise to him. Open up your heart to him and just let it out.

101 Ways to Pray & Praise...Part 3

11. Pray with your children. Children are so open spiritually. Teach and guide them into a life of prayer and praise.

12. Silence. Listen for and to God. This can be very difficult but very rewarding. Try to spend an hour or more in silence and contemplation. See how God will bless you.

13. Meet with a prayer partner and share your joys and sorrows. Remember where two or three are gathered the Lord is there!

14. Pray your schedule. Give God your past week, month, quarter and ask for his perspective and comments. Do the same with your coming day and week. Ask him for insight into the things he wants you to do and not to do, accomplish, pray for, and people to meet with. Ask him to permeate your plans.

15. Minister to God. God is seeking worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth. In stead of asking for anything give him worship. Praise him for who he is and what he has done for you.

What are you waiting for?

From the One-Minuet Writer

I would like to say that I am waiting on the Lord. Hoping in his salvation and eternal life. There are days when I forget to do this, days when I forget that this physical world I see is not all there is to reality. And I must say that those days are the ones when I am most frustrated with my kids, others, and myself. I would rather spend my time basking in the peace that surpasses all understanding than running in "the rat race". Amen

If you could live for a year at a different time in history, what time would you choose?

From the One-Minuet Writer

Definitely, 1950s! This one's easy for me because I've always loved the fifties: the music, the cars, the saddle shoes and poodle skirts. I love it all. I think it was also a time before things really started to change for the worse in our country. With all of our amenities and affluence I thin we've gotten worse at treating each other with respect and concern. You know the things you see in the old movies. A time when people were courteous to each other for no reason at all just because they respected each other as human beings. I'm not saying things were perfect just better in that regard.

If I Had A Nickle For...

From One-Minuet Writer

If I had a nickle for every toy I pick up I'd be pretty well off.

If I had a nickle for every dish I wash I'd be a millionaire.

If I had a nickle for every time I say "Don't do that." or "Stop doing that." (to my kids) I'd be a billionaire!

Where Do Your Affections Lie?

I once heard worship defined as, “ the object or person on which your affection lies.” Does your affection lie with the Great I AM, the Creator God or is it resting on something or someone else. Over the past couple of years I’ve learned a few ‘litmus’ tests to discover where your affection lies. I’d like to share them with you and I hope that you consider where your affection is placed because Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.”
(Mk. 12.30)

1. Where and on what do you spend your free time? Do you spend your free time doing things that have kingdom value? Are you using your time wisely or do you simply waste away in front of the tv or computer? This is not to say that television or computer play is bad. Just check yourself in how much of your free is spent doing this or something of spiritual significance.

2. Where and on what do you spend your money? Is it easy for you to give freely? In case I haven’t meddled enough, the things you spend your money on can tell you a lot about your affection. Do you constantly spend money on yourself and those who are closest to you? Do you use funds to share with ‘the least’, ‘the poor’, or those who aren’t in your circle of friends? Do you spend more money accessorizing (home, vehicle, self) then you do on kingdom business?

3. Where are your thoughts concentrated? Do your thoughts center on worrying about “what ifs”? Are you constantly thinking about someone, so that they become an obsession (husband, children, parents, etc.)? What do you day dream about?

Our Father is seeking true, spiritual worshipers (Jn. 4.23 emphasis added). He desires the “valentine” of your heart rather than mere lip service. I’ll leave you with the words of Paul found in Romans 12.1-2:

I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.