Evotions

Monday, October 1, 2012

A National Prayer, Friend.

Over the weekend, I decided to attend one of the thousands of outdoor gatherings for groups working on the political landscape. This one was in Kansas, some 130 miles away, but close enough to go. My interest was in the state senator and state representative and the house member and the people who attended the event. Yes, it helps me pray when I see first hand the toils of a legislator and the concerns of citizens. Visiting another state increases my perspective.

There were four conversations that play over and over in my mind. I asked the same question of each person. Some folks began with political platitudes and issues and I won't repeat those. These four gave me deep and honest answers that I believe define our national landscape.

The question? "What is impacting your life in our nation?"

One retired gentleman talked about going the the grocery store and checking out with the few items he could afford. After 44 years of working for the same company, his returns from the social security system were just not enough. The family in front of him checked out with a loaded basket. They paid with a "food stamp" card. Let's call this story injustice and indignity. The injustice and indignity of giving a life of contribution to the community and receiving a paltry return while a non-working family seems to be receiving more from his taxes than he is from his contributions. There was no complaint. Just a sadness at the state of injustice and indignity.

Another retired gentleman talked about a grocery store outing. The family at the counter pulled four successive "food stamp" cards before one worked. Hmmmm, where did they get four cards? Was the system being cheated? Did the clerk care? Did anyone care? Let's call this story, "Cheating is okay."

Another story told about a shopping expedition to Lowe's. At the counter, a driver's license was requested for some reason. The man pulled one out. Oh, that is not you. Okay, try this one. Oh, okay, we can use that one. Again, no response by the clerk to what looked to be an illegal situation carrying multiple IDs. Just check out and go forward. Let's call this story, "Stealing is okay."

Another man told of working off and on for the last five years. More off than on, he told me. He had his wife and four children with him munching hot dogs. He came for a little free food and some time away from the drudge. Sure, he told me, he worked at whatever work he could get, but had not had a real job for five years. Let's call this story, "Where is the chance to work?"

An assistant to one of the politicians told me how he was going to work on his masters in public administration. However, at his twenty-something age, he had given up on being a politician. The stress he witnessed on the man he served was horrendous. The media and others seemed to continually challenge and accuse in personal manners every time a bill was put forward or a statement made. Let's call this story, "Where is civility?"

Then a few minutes ago, I read a monologue of a bitter teacher in our school system. Seems she was confident parents, politicians, administrators, ministers, et al.. were putting undue pressures on teachers to perform miracles with undisciplined children. The stress was tiring. Let's call this story, "Where is responsibility?"

When you lay aside the "issues" and listen to the impact of our cultural landscape, a disturbing tale unfolds of a society struggling with moral and ethical belief and behavior. Qualities like thankfulness and responsibility and honesty and graciousness and just reward and self control and lawful respect seem to be hidden. They exist. Every person to whom I talked could describe what it feels like when it is going right and when it is going wrong. We know these qualities. We just forget them at appropriate moments and allow them to slide in favor of personal gain.

My Prayer?

Father, how far we have come from where we started in our nation. Painful moments seem to be the norm and not the exception. In such a blessed nation with incredible resources, we struggle with simple human qualities of thankfulness and gratitude and responsible behavior and commitment. Bring honesty to our hearts and actions. Help us to engage graciousness and right living in our daily moments. Give us leaders to demonstrate moral and ethical living. Give us wisdom to look into the mirror and adjust our own life to what we know is right and just and fair and gracious and peaceful and joyful.

Guide us, Father, into a new reality of strengthened living full of moral and ethical stability. Let each of us fully live what we know to live even in the most tempting moments. Fill us with good personal discretion in our choices.

Father, surely I admit I slip and fall and give in to selfish ambition and selfish fulfillment when I could choose to give and be grateful. Heal me, Father, and those that walk with me. Bring a giving heart of serving each other into our national consciousness. Let us lead and walk daily with service in mind. Let service to family and friend and community and business begin in each of our hearts and take priority over serving self.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037
to support financially:
PrayerMetro, Inc. 501c3 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said (CEV) Galatians 6:6
I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving. Philippians 4:17
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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Anticipate The Greatness of God, Friend.

Anticipate the Greatness of God

Psalm 103:21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure

A young man queried me, “What is my purpose? How do I fulfill my destiny?”

Another young man quizzed me, “What is God’s will for my life”

Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

The second question comes closer to God’s desire for us, Friend. Our lives are not about our purpose or destiny being fulfilled, but the will of God and the purpose of God being fulfilled. Too often our concern is for our accomplishment.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure

Any Christian ministry of goodness should be the ministry of Jesus. For each of us is given a portion to manage and express. It is His ministry assigned to us for a season. What a privilege to be used of God in the walking out of His plan and purpose and will. Friend, you and I are created for His pleasure.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

The last few weeks, I have visited with bishops and business leaders concerning next steps in my walk with God. There is wisdom in the multitude of wise counsel. God has place in my stewardship a significant blessing for our nation. How will I administrate this blessing God intends for us? Who will come alongside and assist? These are questions we all ask.

Each of us has differing skills and abilities assigned of God to walk out His good pleasure. I encourage you to connect with God in motion and attach your availability to His good pleasure and purpose. Surely, you are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has preordained in your path.

Prayer:

Father of Light and Joy, we anticipate a display of Your Greatness in our lives and under our care. It is not our purpose or destiny, but Your purpose and destined will that we desire. Bring Friend closer to You. That is Your primary will.

Bend us. Mold us. Shape us. Correct us. Discipline our lives. Get Friend and me prepared to be instruments of Your will and plan and purpose. You desire only good. You plan only blessing.

Today, Precious Father, allow us to see clearly Your hand in our lives. Show us the impact of Your action in and through us.

And we will be filled with Your glory. And we will be filled with Your purpose. And Friend and I will see Jesus in our lives.

Friday, September 14, 2012

God says, "Yes". I hear, "No". What do I do about that?

Powerful Healing: Glad Heart | Energy For Your Life and Health http://ow.ly/dIz9K

Short version....

Psalm 16:9 My heart is glad and celebrates in great joy. With my whole being inside and out, I am excited and alive; my tongue must shout and declare this joy. It cannot be contained or restrained. A great sense of peace and restfulness and security envelops my body and mind and spirit. Phil’s version

Rested Health

Now, that is a picture of great health and well being. That is a picture of restful trust in God and God alone. That is a picture of one that has wrestled with God and found Him to be more interested in securing our hearts that controlling our actions. That is a picture of one, who has encountered fierce angers and pains and problems and illness and has come through to a new realization that the presence and leading of the Father brings us to refreshing and rest. That is a wonderful picture.

Entering In

Entering in to health many times is preceded by great struggle and pain. Our habits become acclimated to the struggle. Our daily routines become expectant of the pain. A friend going through back surgery shared some of her story. The doctors instructed her that ghost pain would continue for some time. Though the surgery is successful and removes even some nerve endings, our minds are trained to find pain at times of day and particular motions. The pain is not there physiologically. Yet, the pain is there in our minds. The conditioning of ill health forms a barrier even when we are healed to enjoying the new freedom.

Breaking Conditional Barriers

In my own experience, I find it difficult to rest after an intense time of development of a business thrust or a strained season with a client. Though the situation is ended and the issues are resolved, my daily expectation of another problem wrestles with my restfulness. A wise executive once commented to me, “Even when we receive a new and different and positive answer, we hear the old negative one that is so common.” He did not say it just like that, but you get the point.

There must be a time of “glory rejoicing” to break the conditional barriers of ill health and negative situations. Celebrate. This unspeakable joy works internally for us to remove scar tissues and sensitive nerves of mind and will and emotion and body. Then we can receive the new and positive situation and answer. This transition must happen. It is a barrier breaker.

Prayer:

Father, there is a great life available through You and Your presence and Your word.

You are life.

You are healing.

You are “Yes” to all Your promises.

You are “Amen” to all Your commitments.

Cause rejoicing to resound in the camp of my heart. Let me release the joy of the moment that heals and conditions me to hear, “Yes, you are healed.”

Walk with me today, Father, as You heal negative expectation built on real experience with tough living. Let joys restore a new hearing and receptivity to my full health

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Powerful Healing: A testimony http://wp.me/p2Ai0r-2f via @prayermetro

Psalm 16: 7-8

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. NKJ

I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
and in the night my conscience warns me.

I am always aware of the Lord's presence;
he is near, and nothing can shake me. GNT

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken. NIV

Some Years of Miracles

God works a tremendous miracle in my body. Pray to change me and bless others became my regimen for years of ill health. These two activities brought me to the place of total healing and keep me there.

For years I suffered from immense depression and unstable emotional upheaval and physical exhaustion. The root of this was a surgery to remove my thyroid glands. They were swollen, wrapped around my vocal nerves, and had growths. The thyroids had to be removed.

The day before surgery, I ran 3.5 miles at 7.5 minutes a mile in 102 degree Oklahoma summer. The day after surgery, I could not walk across the room. Two weeks after surgery, I could not walk a block. A year after surgery, I could not run a mile. Five years after surgery I had lost all my physical stamina and gained 60lbs. My system simply would not stabilize. My emotions were strained and tested.

Daily Prayer

In 1997, one year after the surgery, I committed myself to daily prayer for the first hour of my day. I would rise, shower, put on my best clothes and sit with God and a bible and some motivational book and a notepad. This has been my habit since. It is now 15 years of living this way.

These morning times became my solace and healing. Of course, my body was deteriorating, my emotions were rent, and my strength was waning. Ministry and career grew and exploded and my personal health and welfare was struggled horribly.

The Three Women

In the time of change, there were three praying women who would call me at exactly the most strenuous moments. In my office at the church, I would be exhausted and received a call. “Pastor Phil I have been praying for you for two days. How are you?” These women did not know each other. They did not know the others were calling. They did not know their exact timings delivered of God. I would weep and be strengthened by the prayers of three sensitive saints and maybe countless others that just prayed and never called. I would continue to grow weaker and more strained. Daily saints kept me alive.

Then It Happened

Something painful and wonderful transpired. After all these years of doctor visits and hours in the gym fighting for a body that worked and prayer for others, my condition reached the worst point ever. What a great result to such dedication and commitment. I finally reached total chaos and breakdown.

Four Day Waves

Every fourth day for a month, I found myself exhausted. Then after a month, something happened. All the hormones and chemicals balanced. That is more than 10 years past. Every time I am tested today, all hormones and chemicals are perfect.

There is no thyroid. There is no synthetic hormone. I take no pills or medicines. Every test for ten years shows perfect balance. Last week, I ran over 30 miles. All I have to battle for weight now is middle age spread and a love for grease and pastries.

Sustained

Truly, I am sustained by the same habits that brought restoration. Continual focus on God changing me first and blessing those around me opens health.

Sharing

Maybe this story can encourage you. You can get more details and scriptures that apply

Powerful Healing: A testimony http://wp.me/p2Ai0r-2f

via @prayermetro

Prayer

Father, You are amazing. I am wonderfully reminded every moment of my day that You are the God of healing and love. Who else would take me from my places of pain and put me in solid and broad ground of joy?

Father, bless the reader of these notes. There is no way to give you all the praise You deserve. You are amazing.

Bring health for my friend.

Bring stability of mind and heart.

Bring grace and mercy.

Bring strength and verve.

Bring vitality and vision.

Bring joy and hope.

Let my friend see Your face this morning and be enlivened.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Near to Friend in Healing.

Psalm 16:8 I am always aware of the Lord's presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me GNT

Near To Friend In Healing:

How powerful is healing? A friend described his last three weeks of healing journey. He had a violent condition that resulted in waking several times a night choking and gasping for air. The doctors had prescribed major medicines, inhalers, etc… As he said, “I have quarts of medicine.”

Then we prayed in his home one evening.

That night he slept. Every night since then he has slept. All the symptoms are gone. The doctor is puzzled. His friends are puzzled. They are so puzzled they are opening up and talking to him about issues in their life that need prayer.

That is God being close to us. He is so near, others want to touch Him through us.

Near to Friend in Healing:

How powerful is healing? M came to CAREVI in Matamoros years ago. It was before Raul and I began working with Dr. Carillo and the team. M is on the leadership team. There are many stories to tell. He and his family are a blessing to watch. They are busy expanding the kingdom. M ministers the gospel from the point and testimony of his new life, healed and whole. Once he was addicted and trapped. Through scripture and prayer and counsel and love, that is past and he is healed. When visiting this summer, he showed me an outline he made of Los Siete Secretos de Los Padres (the Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers). He is teaching 17 men. 10 are in the congregation and 7 in the community. I gave him the book three years ago. He has devoured and put the truths to work for his family and others. That is healing.

When Are You Unshakeable?

Another friend and I talked over lunch. The press of painful events in my life is enormous these days. Six family deaths, job change, deep betrayals by trusted friends, near death accidents, and more than I want to mention all occurred in an eight week period. Wow. My wife and I should be rattled and locked up under drugs somewhere. Yet, we pursue peace and continue to live and reach others. How so? Why are we not shaken beyond the calm?

Easy. Prior to the onslaught and while it was happening, I was in a period of reading from Genesis to the Revelation. In the same eight weeks, in prayer, I felt strongly impressed to make that prayer and reading journey. That was before the onslaught. That was during the onslaught. The effect is still flowing. The words of God can create unshakeable health in us.

These friends to whom I point are living in strong circumstances. One lives in a war zone city in Mexico. The other works in law enforcement. They are bright lights of Jesus in dark circumstances. They have chosen to allow God’s healing in them to reach others. They chose to be near to God when others run away.

When Are You Unshakeable?

When you are near to God, you build the unshakeable force of health and healing.

In the scripture

In prayer

In healing

In comfort.

In peace

In living

In pain

In problems

When you allow Him room to show through you to others in all your experiences, you build the unshakeable force of health and healing.

For Tomorrow, Be Healed

Another friend called to cancel an appointment. It happens often. She plans to be sick. Yes, she plans to be sick. She is sick now and plans for it to continue for a while. Hmmm

Yesterday, I worked helping some friends move. They are new friends and coworkers. We started at 8:30am and I finished at 7pm. Many finished along the way and the friends were still going when I left. It was a long day of carting and carrying boxes and chairs and desks. Sleep was sweet. This is being written in the early morning hours. I am up and ready for a new day. No time to plan for sickness. I went to bed early and planned for a good healthy day.

He is near for healing.

He is near for peace.

He is near for strength.

He is near, now and here.

Pray:

Father, I’d like my time to be with you now and here.

Fill me with Your presence.

Heal me.

Peace me.

Joy me.

Estoy aqui. I am here.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Updates on living, Friend, make living more joyful.

Philippians 4:4-5 JBPhillips Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord.

Life takes upgrades and updates. Seems simple. Seems complicated. Seems confusing?

What do you mean by upgrades and updates on living?

Each of us is familiar with upgrading our computer or financial investments or golf clubs or some element of life. Do you upgrade your living? I'm not talking about the normal items we consider success such as job involvement or dollars in the bank or even hobbies and activities. I'm talking about your thought life.

Life deals hard blows and happy moments. When you delight yourself in God, you find that neither of these sways you much. Upgrading your living can mean building a determined stance of joy in Jesus. Updating your living can mean deciding on gentleness instead of anger and quietness instead of worry. You can upgrade through a constant attitude that the Lord is near and listening and ready to answer.

During a recent bible study and prayer time with some new friends, we were exploring the friendship relationship we can have with the Father. As we stopped to pray and acknowledge His nearness a certain hush engulfed the room. It was fantastic. To jointly experience that quiet love of God in a moment was certainly an upgrade to my day that day. I had been on the run for several days from Mexico to Oklahoma and catching up on phone calls and emails and paying bills. That nearness of God gave me a respite and joy that had been missing in the crunch. It was an upgrade to my living this week.

Prayer: Father, upgrade my living. Bring me a quiet acknowledgement of how close You are to me right at this moment. Still my soul. Be gentle with me that I may repeat Your gentleness to others. Let me focus on delighting myself in you instead of delighting myself in things and activities. Upgrade my living experience. Oh, Father, there are maybe 80 years on this side of living. Yet, there is eternity offered with You. Help me to relax and enjoy the moments You provide in all they have to offer. Maybe some moments don't have much joy to offer, but let me connect with all the joy that is in them. Help me upgrade my living by seeing the good in each moment.

Phil Larson 405-388-8037
to support financially:
PrayerMetro, Inc. 501c3 508 Tumbleweed Dr. Yukon, Ok 73099
Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said (CEV) Galatians 6:6
I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving. CEV Philippians 4:17
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PrayerMetro
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/prayermetro
Blog: http://prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Energy For Your Life and Health | Your promise is that life should be healthy and balanced

Energy For Your Life and Health | Your promise is that life should be healthy and balanced:

'via Blog this'

Psalm 16:7 I praise you, Lord, for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind. CEV

Psalm 16:7 I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
and in the night my conscience warns me. GNT

In the night:

Waking from a fretful rest, this excerpt from the Psalm of healing, breaks through with truth. Over and over my dreams spoke of being robbed of precious items in life. As I woke and pondered the meaning, it impressed me how often that has happened.

Over life and time all of us build. We build families. We build homes. We build playhouses in the woods. We build businesses. We build outreaches. We build. It is our nature and commission of God. When what we build is taken from us due to greed or natural destruction or lack of attention or any other corruption or theft, we grieve the loss. A good man or woman goes on and builds again. A wounded soul pulls into them and wonders why they never prosper.

Lesson of Conscience

This is a lesson from the conscience speaking in the night hours. The conscience is a good source of healing. God speaks into the depths of our heart and minds goodness for our souls. Many times, it is in rest that we take down our defenses and let Him speak the loudest.

For this moment, God is instructing me to insure that I enjoy along the path of what I build and not worry too much about the end. At the same time, He is instructing me to build paths of ownership that allow the prosperity to roll over on my family. There is healing in those instructions. There is relief from confusion over past living and loss. There is hope for the future and there is new strength for today. What was disturbing as I slept was washed in wisdom and a future hope and understanding.

Darkest Night

The Perseid meteor belt lights up our skies at the lake tonight. Watching brilliant meteors hit the atmosphere and burn with broad and long tails is soothing. Not many get to see such life in the night. Most were asleep. Many live around so much bright light of the city that they will never see the show of God’s handiwork in such loveliness. It is there. We just don’t see it. It took me 56 years to stop and watch and my memory will never be the same. There is beauty painted in my mental storage.

A legislator from Louisiana sent me this note. “I believe that God is always there. It is me that sometimes is not.” When He is most brilliant, our busyness and distraction keeps us from seeing Him. When we are in the darkest parts of life, we most often will stop and see His hand. Why do we wait?

Healing?

Want to be healed? Put yourself in quietness and solitude. Listen to your sleeping moments. God is speaking loudly with healthy instruction. You will gain wisdoms to share with your soul and with others.

It is these lessons taught into our conscience and soul that come out when needed in daily living. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak in confident faith and expectant expression of the goodness of God. Healing comes from the deep. It exudes by the touch and hand of the Holy Spirit from vast storehouses into which we plunge our thoughts and pains during the quiet and the dark.

Shortly our lessons will turn to engage power healing. Please understand the path to power is paved with patience and persistence and perception. Rushing into power is damaging in the long run and will cause a more fretful life than the one you already have.

Pray:

Father, talk to me. Talk to my soul. Talk to my conscience.

Allow Your words of life and loveliness to imbed deep into my sleeping and waking thoughts.

All Your insights application to my life.

Help me to see You speak in the dark.

Help me to see You always speak.

It is the dark that allows me to discern the subtleties of Your wisdom and counsel and might.

Holy Spirit, guide me. Speak to me in quietness and solitude as I respect Your gentleness and lovingkindness. Then empower me as a lion to go forth in victory expanding the kingdom of God within my soul and without the expanse of my called influence in this life.