Modern Devotion

I wrote a blog entry for www.livetwentyten.com. Live2010 is a campaign that we are doing at Red Mountain Christian Center to help people spend 20 minutes in prayer a day and ten minutes reading their bible to read through the whole bible in 2010.

Here is a portion of that blog entry:

2010 (MMX) is a common year that started on a Friday and is the current year. In the Gregorian calendar, it is the 2010th year of the Common Era or of Anno Domini; the 10th year of the 3rd millennium and of the 21st century; and the 1st of the 2010s decade. There are a lot of interesting things happening this year, like Chevrolet releasing the Volt, a new electric car, or even greater things such as the Space Shuttle program will be retiring NASA and replacing it with Project Constellation (go read some of more 2010 changes here).

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The first three numbers; 0’s, 1’s and 2’s. Simple numbers that almost all 2 year-olds know. This idea of 20 minutes reading and 10 minutes praying brings a few thoughts to my mind, neither of which are trying to figure out whether the proper pronunciation is twenty ten or two thousand and ten. Although I think twenty ten is correct .

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We live in a day of technology. An ingenious software called YouVersion is celebrating their users collectively reading 1 billion minutes on their iPhones, iPods, Blackberrys, cellphones, the mobile web and the internet atwww.youversion.com with 41 translation and 22 languages, again that is 1 BILLION minutes, or 16.7 million hours, or check this out, 19 CENTURIES. What about listening to the bible in audio format in your car or on your iPod. To give you an idea I read from Genesis through Deuteronomy in as little as a few weeks listening to the bible while driving to and from work in about 15 minutes each way. People also use all kinds of bible software like Logos that Pastor Jeff, myself and others use that allows about three hours of Bible study/research in as little as a few minutes...

Go read the rest here!

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TXT MSG THAT MEANS SOMETHING!

I got a text message from one of our Lifegroup leaders and she sent out a text to all her students and I was fortunate enough to get included in it. She said:

Thought for the day: Relationships aren't built by sitting together but by serving together. Be in prayer for your cause.

That was a great challenge. Are we trying to just have relationships or trying to build relationships. Think of the value of something that you invested in. Listen to the difference between the value of these two statements; I have a house, or I built my home. We take pride in what we build. The value comes from the work that you put into it. Don't just be a part of something, create something, be a change agent.

Serve your friends. Serve your neighbors. Serve complete strangers. Here is one, serve your enemies. It is a simple thought but a very powerful one.

Today, who are you going to serve? What relationship are you going to build?

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AZ District Council 2007

John Lindell
James River Assembly of God Sr. Pastor

"The Power With Praying With Anticipation"

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The only story that is repeated 3x in the Old Testament - Hezekiah and his reign as king.

The king tried to trust God and do what he said.

Isaiah 38:6 - And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.

The King didn't trust God, he tried to make deals with other kings.

Isaiah 39:1 - At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

2 Chronicles 32:25 - But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Hezekiah is overwhelmed by the situation. Isaiah 36:6 - God would bring him out of the trouble and speak to him.

When God is speaking you to you, hold on to him. LIsten closely to the Lord. Stop and listen to the verses that speak to you.

6 steps to coming to a place of anticipation on the lord through prayer.

Wait: qavah

1. Understand how big God is.
- Isaiah 40:25-26 - To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

2. Even though God is big he cares about your needs.
- Isaiah 40:27 - Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

3. Remember What you have known.
-Isaiah 40:28 - Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

4. God can miraculously Strengthen you.
- Isaiah 40:29 - He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
- Instead of saying I cant do it, say God you have equipped me and made me for this. I can't wait to see what you are going to use me to do. You will give me strength each day, you will give me strength for the battle.

5. God understands that even the strongest get tired.
- The soul and the strength grow together, they both get tired. - C.S. Lewis
- Isaiah 40:30 - Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

6. If we look to God With Anticipation He will give Strength
- Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
- God will give you a supernatural strength.

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