Committed

Matthew 5:  17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”.

Jesus is committed to the full plan of God.  Part of that plan is the law.  Part of that plan is for the law to show us our inabilities and ways to live a better life.  This law is detailed and damning and defining.  There is no avoiding it.  Even when we have not been taught the law, it will convict us of the need for a better life.

On a plane headed home, the woman next to me convicted me.  The memory scripture on which I was working talked about being wise with those who do not believe.  Here she was, unbelieving.  Here she was, looking for answers.

Really, airplane chatter is tough for me.  The noise and head stuffiness makes it hard to hear.  What if the person is a bad conversationalist?  The flight is 3.5 hours.  Every excuse presented itself.  The voice of the verse taunted my conscience.

The entire flight, we talked.  She asked about picking a good man, who would be a good father for children.  She asked about finding her passion in life and living faithfully to it.  She asked about relationships based on codependency.  She was looking for some counsel.  She was looking for a friend with the gospel.  She was looking with a friend with knowledge of the law that builds a better life.

ACT! Who is it that needs some light of the gospel?  Yes, the law will convict you to find the gospel.  Then it becomes a joy lived by the power of the gospel and the freedom of grace.

PRAY! Father, Your law convicts me of the need for grace.  Every day, I need grace.  Every day, I need mercy.  Any You provide it every day in every way.  Grace to endure.  Grace to rejoice.  Grace to be alive.  All of this is mine in Christ.  Mercy to be free.  Mercy to live with no condemnation.  Mercy to enter Your presence as a child and ask for love and life.  These are all mine in Christ.  Keep me moving forward in understanding and obedience.  Keep me open to live the Gospel so others might see and hear.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

City of God - Light of the World

This short E-votion has been going out since 1997.  Today there are over 1200 worldwide receiving.  I don't add frequently, just at simple junctures where I connect with people.  It all started when serving as a church administrative pastor.  In the rush of ministry, the staff were not receiving any.  So I started a little word of encouragment once a week via email as a lifter.  Most people did not have email back then, but our staff did.  Then a missionary visiting would see one printed out and ask to be added, and oh well, the list got longer.   Missionaries in the field receive.  Pastors, bishops, and educators receive.  Men and women in business and community and at home receive.  Lots of men and men who are dads receive.  Baptist, Presbyterian, Assembly, Pentecostal, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Faith, independent, interdenominational, Islam, Jew, and no declared faith receive.  Trust me, everyone doesn't agree on every one of these.  Most tell me that every once in a while a simple truth hits home and encourages.  For that one that touches every once in a while, I send them out. 

If memory serves me, I believe there are at least 500 more in this series on Matthew's gospel.  At my present rate, it will be about five years before we complete this gospel a snippet of thought at a time.  There are other full books on subjects regarding Prayer in Times of Trouble, Approaching God in Prayer, Praying For Other Christians, Winning Attitudes in the Workplace, Psalm 84 - A Heart for People, Unity Among Christians, Patching the Breach - Avoiding and Curing the Plague of Gossip, The Tower of Spiritual Fathering... all of these have been tested across Christian faiths and world cultures. 

Be Blessed a little.  Don't worry if you only read one a year or a month or a week.  I won't.  Don't be afraid to pass on to a friend in need of a lift. Just be straightforward about it.  Every once in a while I get an opt out from some one who is not in.  They don't realize from whom they are getting them.

Yes, there is a real person behind PrayerMetro.  I just updated the website with a few of our recent connections.  Maybe I'll get some time to post the Father/Daughter Summit pics.  It was such a blessing.

Most of all, I love to pray for you.  Every morning I take my morning coffee in prayer.  It has been my ritual for over a decade.  In the evening, I take a few more minutes of prayer and writing.  During the day, I try to not leave the attitude of prayer.  Sometimes, my wife will throw me out of bed because I am praying out loud in my sleep.  Don't be hesitant to let me know how to pray with knowledge for you and your family and business.  There is plenty of room in my schedule to get it done.

Many of these E-votions are archived from prior years at Psalms.ws, a website of a friend.  Recently, I've tried to keep prayermetrodevotions.blogspot.com updated as an archive, also.

Enough rambling.  Be blessed.  Be full of hope.  Be happy.  God is in control.  God is always awake.  God is always on your side

Matthew 5: 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

City of God

What does it mean to be the light of the world?  Connection to Jesus means we become the light of the world.  Connection to Jesus means we are a part of a city on a hill that cannot be hid.  It is not us individually to whom He speaks.  It is us, the City of God, the people of God, to whom He speaks.  Together in Him, we are the light of the world.  

Light For All

Our world is dark.  Our world is pained.  Our world is putrid.  Get it straight.  This world is full of shadows.  It is wrong because it is disconnected from the light.  Jesus came and spoke to the world to change to a different way of thinking.  He spoke for this world to think light not dark.  When we connect with Him we connect with a message of light.  

Connected Light

Together, the body of Christ, is meant to shine a light on problems.  It is meant to shine solutions for our metro.  This city to which we are attached is full of solutions for others to see and grasp and join.

Dad’s Example

When I was a child, we visited restaurants infrequently.  It was a rare treat to eat out.  Every time we ate out, my dad insisted we make the traditional prayer signature to start, bow, and sign out physically.  Everyone could see the sign of the cross.  In many churches the letters IHS (In Hoc Signa) in this sign are inscripted.  In the sign of the cross, we would start and end prayer.  People would get quiet in the room.  It was embarrassing.  It was humiliating.  It was right.

For my children, it is common for me to call on one of them to pray aloud in a restaurant.  It is our tradition.  It is something my dad taught me.  Don’t be ashamed of who you are or who your God is.  When eating out with business acquaintances, it is still my honor to bow and silently pray.  Every once in a while someone will ask me to pray aloud in a restaurant.  It is not right to impose my faith, but it is my honor to acknowledge my Creator.  The doors open when you do.

ACT! Shine a light.  It is so easy to not be like Christ.  It is so easy to skip praying over a meal in public.  It is so easy to just not mention your friends and relationships in Christ.  When conversation at lunch turns to others talking about movies and shows and new homes and kids in school, how do you talk?  Are you free to mention your friends in Christ?  Are you open to talk about a great sermon you heard or a meaningful worship service that stirred your soul?  Are you willing to be seen connected to the city on the hill?

PRAY! Padre Precioso, Precious Father, I am committed to join the city and be known as joined to the city.  It s risky.  It is risky to be known.  Even according to Your word, it can bring persecution.  It can bring misunderstanding.  It can bring dissension.  But, Father, I am committed to be known by Your name.  Let me not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ that calls us to live as light in a dark world.  Let me not be ashamed of the name of Jesus.  Let me not be ashamed.  Let not my enemies of my world, my flesh, and the devil triumph over me.

 

 If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer. .  www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Rewarded

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, … 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

Connection With Reward

Connection with Jesus is a connection with reward.  The reward is not free.  It comes with great price in this world and great blessing in the next.  Sometimes we want that formula changed to blessing here and blessing there.  There is a time of blessing in this world.  There is a time of persecution in this world.  Sometimes they are the same item.  When we follow Jesus, we must be willing to embrace both and not be deterred by either.  To address persecution as blessing is an enigma only those that know the honor of being joined with Christ can understand.

 

Ann’s Dilemma

The press against Ann was intense.  She had taken this new position in obedience more than desire.  Over the last few years, she had seen the team go from pitiful performers to top class award winners.  The team performance was receiving notice from across the company.  Ann simply prayed to be faithful and do the right things.  God had answered and given her favor and wisdom.  The results were good for the company many times over.  Now, she had been promoted in place of her director.  The rumors in the workplace were heavy.  People talked.  All she wanted to do was serve faithfully.  This was a blessing.  This was a persecution.

 

ACT!  The fear of persecution has stopped more than one person from stepping into greatness in God.  Is there a fear in you of blessing that leads to success?  Are you afraid of the concurrent potential persecution?   Put down the fear.  Understand that God, Himself is on your side.  He will strengthen you in blessing, though it may take all the strength you have in Him to truly enjoy.

 

PRAY!   Father, deliver me from the fear of greatness.  Deliver me from the evil that would avoid victory because of the attendant persecution.  Break loud in my soul the blessing of Your assignment.  Teach me to fearlessly embrace the victorious living in Christ.  Teach me that persecution is the greatest blessing when it finds me because of faithfulness to Your name and Your assignment for my life.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Adversity is the fertilizer of my future.

Ps 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.
Pr 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
God's development plan includes hard days. Adversity is the fertilizer of my future. Avoiding the issues means never finding the pure silver.

Blessings, Phil

PeaceMaker

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ….. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

 

Nothing sooths the soul like peace does.  One who makes peace is always welcome.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He will keep you in perfect peace if you stay your mind on him.  With prayer, you can ensure your heart and mind are guarded by peace.  He is a Shepherd of still waters and quiet resting places.  He is peace.

 

Following Him in the peacemaking business will grant you “child of God” status.  Hmmmm..  Others are impressed, when you lead to peace troubled situations.  Others are impacted when you take a conflict and bring it to resolution.  Peace or conflict affects so many people around you that everyone notices the peacemaker.  They like to be treated with a peacemaking mentality.  People just love it.  They will call you a child of God, they love it so much.

 

A friend walked into a hectic computer facility some years ago.  As he recounts the story, another worker looked straight at him and commented on his peaceful attitude.  He laughed.  He had felt anything but peaceful.  Problems had been growing in number and impact on the company.  The constant push and pull had wearied him.  Yet, the other person saw was peace.  Yes, he had helped many others resolve conflicts.  Yes, he tried to put it all on God instead of carrying it.  It just made him laugh to think that they saw peace and he felt turmoil.  The work of peace in him and on him from the Father amazed him.  It was impacting others and he did not realize that fact.

 

ACT!  Do you make peace with yourself?  Do you make peace with others?  Do you make peace for others?  Think about a situation with strain exists.  Don’t pick a conflict, just a strained issue.  Take time to speak some encouragement and confidence to the other person before conflict develops.

 

PRAY!   Father, my heart wants to live like You.  Being Your child is all I want.  Help me follow the paths of peace to be called a child of God.  Embrace my heart with peace from the Lord of Peace.  Collapse my self-made bubbles and pride with peace in the midst of self-created conflicts.  Show me a strain so I can apply the balm of Gilead in peace and encouragement.  Peacemakers have more fun.  Let me have it.

 

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Inherit the Earth

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ….. 5: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 

What does it mean to inherit the earth?  The meek get to do it.  We can inherit money.  We can inherit a business.  We can inherit land.  What does it mean to inherit the earth?  Must we wait for someone to die?  What does it mean?

 

Jesus was meek among meek.  Moses was declared the meekest man.  Both of these men were bold beyond measure.  Both were powerful with miracles. Conflict surrounded them.  Both were directive and unashamed of their message.  Is that meek?  Yes.  Both allowed God to be their defender.  Both protected the dignity of the individual.  Both were full of kindness.  Meekness represents confident power self-controlled.  It does not put others down.  It considers the plight of all.  It demands correct response.  Meekness never puts the person above others in order to achieve a goal.  The meek rightly know who they are and act confidently and considerately to achieve Godly goals with compassion.

 

These meek inherit the earth in this life.  There is no need for the death of anyone to inherit this earth.  When we meet Jesus, we receive great authority and power and call to task.  To move in meekness means to proceed to get our assignment done with all resources supplied.   The earth, the world system, submits to the meek.  The earth will comply for the meek.  Others move out of the way for a person of confidence on a mission.  Many will quickly give resources to them to steward, understanding a good return will be had.  They inherit the earth and all it has to give.

 

Blake scratched his head.  For the sixth time this week, someone called and offered him what he needed to arrange his meeting.  First a caterer called and asked if he had any needs.  They had a few dates open in April and would like to give him a discount to try them out.  The first date was the date of his meeting.  Second, he was at lunch and overhead a person waiting to be seated talking about their business of supplying meeting rooms.  He arranged with them for the date for half of his budget.  Then his sales assistant informed him she was starting a part-time personal printing service from home.  She agreed to help him design all the invitations and handouts in exchange for using the business name as a reference.  This was too easy.  He was confident from day one this was the right thing to do, but it seemed everyone was cheerfully willing to embrace the idea with him and help.

 

ACT!  Meek?  Do you know your own strength?  Do you know the strength of God that is with you? Are you submissively confident so that others can see?  The next time you approach someone about a decision you want them to make, believe in yourself and God’s ability to bring it to pass.  Then talk to them.  See what happens.

 

PRAY!   Father, teach me the truth that it is not by my power or my might, but by Your Spirit that the task is accomplished.  Teach me that You own and the fruitfulness of the earth.  Teach me that You have equipped and accepted me to do what is ahead of me in the day.  Teach me that I don’t have to put myself forward, put others down, or force anything to happen.  Instill in me confident power exhibited with meekness.  Let me see this earth submit to Your will even as the angels in heaven respond to Your commands.  Thank You for being You.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Watching the fountains at the Bellagio.. Where is Danny Ocean?

A friend reminded me of a quote in this little essay.  "Accepting reality while pressing for change is the task of a real believer."  It makes sense.  Tonight, I am in Vegas speaking at a conference for an international equipment dealer.  Really I am here for many reasons.  Learning.  Giving back to others.  Looking for a God appointment of a new client.  Listening to others who struggle with similar issues.  Maybe I'm just here to enjoy the fountains.  Set against the Eifel tower replica at the Paris, they are phenomenal.  It is relaxing to sit above all the noise and chaos and just enjoy the pleasantness in the evening.  So here is a thought from some day earlier this year.

By the way, don't forget the Father/Daughter Summit.  Time to register and bless your daughter, Dad.  Time to register and bless your dad, Daughter.  http://www.fathers.com/summit  

 

Ecclesiastes 11:3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

The rain falls where the rain falls.  Be blessed.

While I write this, a pleasant and cool rain is blessing the cooked earth.  It has been a normal and hot summer.  Today, the rain blesses.  Other days, the rain has caused pain with lightening and power outages.  Enjoy the rain.  There is a pleasant detoxification in watching the rain with a cup of coffee early in the morning.

Over the last few weeks it has been a source of comic relief to think on the amount of control we would like to have over the world.  Interacting with many ministries and business and community entities a fluid thought comes up quite frequently.  How do we make this world conform to our view and expectation?  Why does the world just do what it does and not meet our definition?  How long will it take to gain the understanding needed to make today’s decisions?  What is left that we don’t know?  Why do some fail and some succeed?  Can’t I just shout at the mountain and it will disappear?

Really, these questions and the underlying quest for conforming others to our definitions can lead us to frustration.  The premise that the world should conform to our view is hilariously warped.  Sure, we are here to carve a notch in our sphere of influence and bring more of the kingdom of God into reality in our neighborhood, our metro.  Sure, we should leave the world a better place than what we found it.  But there is a reality at work that this world will groan in birth pains until the day of Jesus’ appearing.  Every worshipper of the Creator God looks for this.  The Jew looks.  The Christian looks.  The Muslim looks.  They all look for the Messiah to come and stop the madness.

Accepting reality while pressing for change is the task of a real believer.  Getting mad that it doesn’t work as fast as we would like is the mark of immaturity.  Staying unsettled and unsatisfied so that we keep working on it is an indicator of a healthy world-changer.  Just make sure you laugh at yourself often.  Just make sure you have fun in the mirror while comparing the enormity of the task with your personal inadequacy.  Just be ready to find out that some doctrine you have made into a sacred cow may have to fall dead in the face of reality and lifetime learning.  Just stay open to God peeling away layers that took you years to secure and anchor against His breath of lifelong revelation.

There is blessing to receive in every day.  There is pain to confront every day.  Our choice is one of life or death.  We can speak life.  We can speak death.  We can receive life.  We can receive death.  Both are open opportunities every moment.  Trees are falling where they will fall around us every moment.  There is a dance of avoiding too much pain and accumulating massive blessing that is our lot on earth.  Enjoy the journey.  Don’t get too hung up in making a perfect dance.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the pain of disease, death, abuse, slander, gossip, envy, jealousy, attack, or some other violence or loss.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the reality of conflict, friction, misunderstanding, or some other present reality of relationship.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and bring a bucket of blessing unexpected and welcome.  Don’t get too convinced that you have as much control as you think you have.  Sure, doing the right things bring the right results.  Sure, there are principles that are unfailing.  Just remember there are trees falling, too.  It is one of the principles.

Relax and watch the rain with wonder.  Take a falling tree to lunch and laugh with them.   Call a fallen tree and have a quick chat with an encouraging word.  Listen to a tree split by the electricity from the sky and render more compassion and less judgment.  Enjoy God’s creation that defies our control and conforming desires.  Some days, it is okay to just enjoy the rain.  Be blessed.

Take Action:  Not today.  Just enjoy.

Let’s Pray:  Father of Blessing, help me to dance the dance.  Help me to place my bucket to catch more good rain than bad.  It falls all around me.  You put me here in this forest.  You placed me in this moment.  I accept the charter to live within it and bring it closer to Your will.  It resists.  It fights.  It falls hard and in places where I don’t want it to fall.  Yet, the blessings outnumber the pains.  I choose to take heart, You have overcome the world.  There is trouble, but You have overcome.  There is pain, but You have overcome.  After the heat, comes the refreshing rain.  Give me joy in all moments.  You stay connected with every moment in my life that my joy might be full.  Let Your promises overwhelm my premises.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037