21 Days Prayer & Fasting

March 14 - April 3

Here at Mercy Church we are doing our FIRST churchwide Prayer and Fasting Challenge. I am very excited to see all that God does in the lives of those who take the challenge and those for whom we pray for during this time as well.

Watch Sunday's Teaching for more information about our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.

Additional Resources:

Online training
7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer ONLINE
7 Basic Steps to Fasting, Bill Bright

Books:
Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough, by Elmer Towns, Gospel Light
Let Prayer Change Your Life, by Becky Tirabassi, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence, Whitaker House
God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis, Christian Literature Crusade

How to Change Your Life

We don't talk about Fasting all that much in the church these days, but we need it more than ever I believe. I know that I haven't taught extensively on the subject, unfortunately. And that is going to change for me, and Mercy Church. And there is one main reason: I want to see the hand of God working in my life, my families life and in the lives of those who attend Mercy Church.

Let's be just real honest here shall we, our lives left in our own hands can get off track pretty quick, and we need more than ever to be fully surrendered and submitted to God's leading in our lives. And there is no better time than right now.

I know that "fasting" can seem weird, or hyper-spiritual or even something that's only for the oober-fanatical-religious folks. It's not. It's something Jesus did, and even told His disciples that certain problems in our lives and others can only be resolved through prayer and FASTING.

So whoever you are, and wherever you are I encourage you to take a few days before Easter (April 4th) and give up some stuff - whether that is Food, Sugar, Coffee, TV, Etc. You decide. Then use that time to spend extra time with God.

RESOURCES: Click Here


Blessings to you as you follow Him!

No Steak in Heaven

So my animal-loving-vegetarian-eating daughter says, "Daddy, will people be able to kill animals in Heaven?" I said, "No! There will be no killing in Heaven" So then my son says, "You mean I can't have a steak in Heaven?" I said, "I assume only a tofu steak will be on the Heavenly menu ... but then again maybe God will just drop Filet Mignon down on our plates when it's time to eat."

WE ALL STARTED OUT VEGETARIAN

Genesis 1:28-29 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Now, for all you meat-lovers don't get uptight, God gave us approval to eat meat, if we want to eat meat, eat it! I am not preaching against it here, simply sharing my conversation with my kids. I just can't do a To-furkey on Thanksgiving! I gotta have the real thing! Though we do special order a drug-free Turkey from Wholefoods every year.

Timmy's 10 Chick-Flick Picks

I love a good movie, actually I love a bad movie, I just love movies! So if you are looking for a chick flick, here are my top 10!

1) Serendipity
2) Just Like Heaven
3) The Notebook
4) P.S. I Love You
5) Beauty and the Beast
6) Sabrina
7) How to Loose a Guy in Ten Days
8) My Big Fat Greek Wedding
9) Hitch
10) Shallow Hal

Here are a few more of my favorites ... it's hard to only pick ten, plus TOP TEN sounds better then TOP TWENTY SIX!

11) Enchanted
12) The Holiday
13) You’ve Got Mail
14) While You Were Sleeping
15) Failure to Launch
16) Sleepless in Seattle
17) French Kiss
18) The English Patient
19) Princess Bride
20) A Walk to Remember
21) Never Been Kissed
22) If Only
23) She’s All That
24) The Prince and Me
25) Bridget Jone’s Diary
26) Say Anything

Is Your Jesus Big Enough

Matthew 18:35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

I am becoming increasingly aware of people's hypocrisy towards people and their sin and it frustrates me honestly. The bible clearly states that WE ALL are sinners and have ALL sinned therefor we should be gracious towards others who do what we do - sin.

I am not sure why but many times our Jesus forgives us for our sins, shortcomings, faults and failures ... but not other people's ... this is sad! This is so unlike the real Jesus of the Bible!

I recently spoke to someone who has been divorced, has had premarital sex, has lied, slandered, gossiped, and so on ... and they had the audacity to stand in judgment of a fellow brother in Christ who has fallen into sin. This is the kind of stuff the makes people (sinners) RUN as far away from Christians, church or anything resembling religious faith.

Lord help us all to not stand in judgment of anyone ... may we be gracious and tenderhearted and full of compassion!

Just One Bite

Not sure why, but I was thinking today about my craving for sweets and how ever-so-often after a Sunday service I will swing by the Coffee & Donut table to see if there are any leftovers. 99% of the time they are cleared out, but this past Sunday we didn't have the normal crowd due to the ice-sleet and rain we had that morning so I was in luck.

So here is my question; is there anything wrong with taking just a bite to satisfy the craving? That's all I did ... one bite and threw the rest away. And how does this translate or crossover in to other "cravings" we may have in life?

As I am writing I am thinking ... all at the same time ... and I would see a difference if the craving was "sinful" ... right? If I have a "craving" to steal, I shouldn't steal just a small item, right ... like stealing time by spending "time" on facebook while on the clock? Would that be considered sin? I guess only if the company has asked you not to... right?

Anyway, haven't thought this all the way through ... it just came to me and it made me pause and ask.

Please do share.

Finding Your Purpose

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This is a question I am sure we all struggle with at times; what is my purpose ... why was I born? Great questions we should all seek answers to. And because I believe I have found and am doing the very thing I was put on this planet to do - I get asked, "how?" And I wish I had all the answers, I don't, but i do believe I have AN answer that at least get you headed in the right direction; start with God!

I know, so simple, so cliche ... throwing out the "God" card. But I truly believe this to be true, I mean if God is the creator of all life (including you) I would think that He would be able to help you ... wouldn't ya think?

I used to hear preachers say, "don't ask God to bless what you are doing, do what He is blessing" and there is some insight there, but it's kinda stupid too! I mean shouldn't we WANT God's blessing on the work of our hands? I think so! And YES, of course I want to do what God wants me to do ... but I think there is some creative freedoms in there as well.

Choices! I feel that God gives us the ability to make CHOICES, rather then always direct ORDERS ... maybe I am wrong, but that seems to fit more with the God I read in the Bible.

I know for me I felt called by God to be a minister (which is what it takes to endure) but I could have chosen to do something else, and could have had a good life. (I just there are some people reading this who disagree ... if so, then leave a comment ...I'd love to hear your opinion!) Now I do believe that being a minister was my primary calling; meaning that anything else would have be secondary. And this road has brought the most fulfillment to me.

So, there you go ... my random thoughts!

Bottom Line: If you want to know what you were BORN FOR ... ask God!

Selfish Spouse

First let me just say; all of us are selfish to some degree! And I do mean all of us.

I was talking to someone a few days back about marriage and how and why some marriages are so wonderful and others not so much ... or why couples seem to be so happy and in love while others - not so much?

And I began to reflect on the many conversations I've had with couples, whether happy or not happy and I remember hearing a common thread of what could be an real issue to WHY marriage fail.

Here is my thought (btw, haven't had time to formulate or think it through totally ... so it's rough draft ... raw material here): Selfishness is at the root.

So a couple I counseled with about a year ago was describing their troubled marriage to me and I could see clearly what was wrong; they were loving the other the way they wanted to be loved, rather than loving their spouse the way THEY wanted to be loved. Make sense?

For example; she was a fantastic homemaker, i.e. cooking, cleaning, caring for the children, she scrap-booked the kids every move, themed birthday parties, thoughtful gifts, etc. etc. And from the outside looking in you would think their home was just perfect. But that's just it, the husband loved all that his wife was doing with the home and with the kids, and the wonderful meals she would prepare for him when he came home from work, but Sex was very infrequent. And that is what he wanted most. More than hot meals after work, more then fresh organic fruit smoothies in the morning before work, more than little special note cards slipped in his briefcase. He wanted intimacy ... specially sex. And she was giving him everything, but that, and that is what he wanted more than anything else.

I have seen the opposite; the husband is working hard to make lots of money for his family. He is a caring loving father, attending every game their son played, etc. etc. But he was neglecting to give his wife what she really wanted ... time with him.

So, all that said if you are married why don't you ask your spouse WHAT DO YOU want from me in our relationship? What is the best way I can say (show) I love you? Then do that!

Having a wonderful happy marriage isn't about EVERYTHING being PERFECT, but it is a lot about GIVING YOUR SPOUSE what they WANT and NEED, not just what you want to give and THINK they need.

DISCLAIMER: I am not talking about crazy unrealistic expectations here! Like a wife that wants her husband to make millions of dollars, yet wants him home all the time ... can't have both in the real world! You just have to decide what is MOST important, then be happy about it!

For me personally there are several things that are important to me, but one of them trumps them all ... and as long as that's going good I don't care all that much about the others. So know your spouses "love language" and speak to him/her in that language so he/she can understand what you are saying!

God bless!

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as 4 February or as late as 10 March.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister administering ashes recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return", "Repent, and believe the Gospel," or "Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel."

Lent is also a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.

Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. They are mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begin on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

I was not raised in a church culture that formally observed Lent Season. But over the last 5 years or so I have come to appreciate it to be a meaningful time to reflect on my own spirituality. I do use the Lent season as a time for concentrated prayers, fasting, and repentance and I would encourage you to do the same. Start TODAY! Or you can do as I do; take a week, ten days, or 21 days within the forty days to really focus on your relationship with God.

SNL at Mercy Church