More Than Bread

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That's my question, well one of my questions in this episode, "Does prayer matter if God doesn't care?" I think most of us listening, believe that God could do what we've prayed for, but we have some problem believing that He would. In other words, we're not sure if God cares. And let's be honest, prayer is just shouting in the darkness if God doesn't care.

But at the risk of giving it away, I'll simply say this, "God cares." In this episode and the next we'll talk abit about what God cares about.

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Are you connected? There are so many things in this world that can cause us to disconnect and isolate. But together is better. Thta's the message of James, over and over and over again. The heart behind his words to the scattered is simply,  "Together is better." It is. Together is better. To the scattered, do everything you can to preserve together. Don't get scattered in hard times. Don't suffer alone. Pray with others. Don't let hard times scatter us. If you are going through a difficult time, don't just take it to God, take it to God together. 

Because, say it with me one more time, "Together is better!"

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Jon Ortberg tells about the time they moved from southern California to Chicago. They spent a lot of time with their kids, just talking through the difficulties of moving. One night, after several months in Chicago, Jon was tucking his daughter
in. She had been getting into more trouble than usual but he hadn't connected the dots. That night, the dam burst and tears spilt out.  "Daddy, it's so hard living here, nobody knows me.  I go to a new church, a new school, and everybody already seems to have friends. I don't belong. I don't have anyone I can talk to, nobody wants to have lunch with me. Daddy, I feel like a little mouse that doesn't have a hole."

Maybe you can relate? It's not so much about having a hole as it is having a community. And community is such a major part of our life of prayer. So my question is, "Are you connected?"

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In James 5, James introduces us to one of his spiritual heroes. (At least that's how I view what's taking place.) Elijah was just as human as we were but look at what God did through him, through his prayers. In this episode we are going to find that while Elijah was looking for a miracle...the miracle God chose to give him was community, a connection.

Are you connected? When times are tough, together is better!

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A life of prayer is not just about we speak, it’s about what we hear. When it comes to a thriving life of prayer, the word of God is the first word. Our prayers are the second word. Our best prayers come in response to His Words. James mentions the man Elijah in James 5 and Elijah heard the still small voice of God. So let me ask, if God was whispering to you, could you hear him?  What if we can best find the presence of God in the stillness? If so, then maybe we should stop Looking for God where He is not.

Can you hear God's whisper?

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So if you listened to the last episode, you know what this one is. It's the audio from my message at Calvary last Sunday (August 17). By the way if you listen as these drop, today is my birthday and like I said in the last episode, Lynn and I are taking a few days away this week for a little bit of r&r before we dive into the fall season!

But my message from Haggai fits a theme in James 5, the theme of persevering, and finishing well. In chapter 1 & 2, Haggai talks about former glory and future glory. At the end of message I give a generosity challenge and a prayer challenge, no matter where you live, I hope you will find a way to join me in both.

And I pray that the CWOW prayer that I leave with you, will become part of your prayer life! A CWOW prayer for future glory!

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Don't you dare give up! In James 5:7-11, that's James message to those who are scattered. Don't give up. When you're at the depths of down, don't give up. When hard times outnumber the good times, don't give up. A turn of the page is ahead and the best is yet to come. So how do I keep going in hard times. James gives us some finishing well tips in this episode. And really thats James challenge. Finish well. Don't flame out. Don't quit. End your life more in love with Jesus than you started. Pursue God. Set your hope, embrace your purpose, strengthen
your heart, find mentors, follow examples. 

But no matter what, don't you dare give up!

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Have you ever noticed that when people look back on their lives and you ask them what helped you to grow spiritually; where were those points in your life when God showed up in deep ways and shaped your heart to be more like Jesus?  When did you develop that deep unshakeable hope that you have that no matter what  happens, the best is yet to come?

Have you ever noticed how often their answer describes a hard-time, a wilderness journey, a pause in the pit, a season of suffering, a crucible experience? It's almost enough to make me pray, God put me in the fire, send me on a wilderness journey. I need some heart chiseling. If that's you, let me encourage you with these words, "You might well be on the hard road to amazing joy."

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If there is a museum in heaven, if there are collections of priceless antiques in heaven, the highlighted pieces that will be viewed with the greatest honor will not be those containing the artifacts of times when the Christian faith brushed up against fame, power and success. I think it will be a collection of ordinary stuff representing some of the most amazing moments that most of the world never knew took place: a cup of cold water given to a refugee; a meal cooked for a sick neighbor; a handwritten note given to a struggling friend; the first check a family wrote to sponsor an orphan in Myanmar...and a widow's mite.  

And do you know what that means? That means there's a place for you...in the Generosity Hall of Fame!

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James has some pretty tough, maybe even harsh words for rich people in James 5:1-6. But let's be honest, most of us aren't rich. Or are we? Before (or after, either is ok) you listen to this episode, go to the website, “givingwhatwecan.org." There’s a lot of good and interesting information on the whole site, about the good we can do if we are generous. But for now just scroll down about halfway until you get to the little box labelled “How Rich Am I?” I’ll warn you this is how rich am I compared to the rest of the world; not compared to my neighbors, not compared to the richest people in the US, but compared to the world. 

Compared to my friends in Myanmar; compared to the folks who live at your local "out of the cold" shelter are you on the global rich list?