Some Prayer Points out of Philippians 1

Here is what I have been impressed to pray for today, based out of Philippians 1, and thought I would share them with you. Praying them for myself, my family and others. I encourage you to pray these through too.

1:6 trusting that this work we were sent here to Chicagoland to do That God will carry it through to the completion. Praying that God will help Jess and I to not give up, to forge ahead by the power of His Spirit.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

1:11 help me Father in everything, to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. Let love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control produce fruit in my life and walk.
“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

1:18 to always be able to “continue to rejoice”, no matter the circumstance.
“But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

1:20 to have sufficient courage.
“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die”

1:27 Father Help us all that no matter what, that we would always conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of he Good News of Christ.
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”

Blessings

Jeromy

Please consider supporting Relief efforts in Alabama

Please consider supporting Relief efforts in
Alabama.

Today I turned on my computer and the news headlines are filled with news on the Royal Wedding,Oprah last TV show and the NFL draft. Who cares, this week over 300 people lost their lives during a violent string of tornadoes that riped through MS, AL GA and more. Someones mom, sister, dad, brother, son, and/or friend is gone. Many are left homeless, w/o power and basic supplies. Fellow Americans need you help. Below is a link that will guide you in areas of prayer and tangible giving that not only will help those in their suffering but will help bring some hope into their lives. Please consider giving today and being a part of the ministry of mercy and love.


http://https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1351260.6343218352/rid:0df03c90251c50ec4ac714dc10c63b8a

Please consdier helping relieve efforts in Alabama

Here is a link you will find to guide you in how to pray and make donations to help those victims of the tragic storms that riped through Alabama this week. Your fellow Americans need our help.

http://https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1351260.6343218352/rid:0df03c90251c50ec4ac714dc10c63b8a

Lets do something beautiful for Jesus.

“Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

In Matthew 26:6-13 we read the story of Jesus being annotated in Bethany. Jesus was in the home of a Leper when a woman (unnamed in Matthew and Marks’ account) came to him with an alabaster jar of some very expensive perfume, which she poured over Jesus head. The text says that the disciples (meaning not just one but most of them if not all) became indignant. No matter their intention or reason they basically devalued, critised the women’s action completely as a “waste”.

What can learn from this woman? Even though she is unnamed, some believe she is Mary of Bethany sister of Martha and Lazarus. Even if it is not her, we know that this woman was a follower of Christ. Jesus defends her act of devotion, as an act of true discipleship. There in that moment, I think that she showed more about being a disciple than any other person in that room. She demonstrates a posture of service that we can all take note of. She humbled herself, before others, obviously able to hear the “negative comments” from the disciples. She put herself out there in a very public, unseen way, because she loved Jesus. She gave her very best. The disciples were right; the perfume was worth lots of money. Something she could have sold, to help herself or others in need. But she sensed the urgency to abandon her own needs and plans too pour most treasured possession over Jesus head. This act was ordained by God in the beginning of time. Because he knows everything, He knew that this women purpose on earth was for this moment and time. To anoint the pure, perfect lamb before the sacrifice. Shortly after this event, Jesus himself followed her own act of devotion and gave his most precious, valuable gift to mankind. He gave His live for us on the cross. Jesus commends her for doing the better part, the part that didn’t make good sense to the disciples. He said that “she had done a “beautiful thing”. She fulfilled God’s eternal plan. For over 2000 years her story has been part of the Gospel Message. Jesus said in verse 13 “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” What a statement to be said about someone simple, but none the less a costly act of devotion.

Some of observations:

What we think is a waste or waste of time and resources might be the very thing that is a beautiful act of love and devotion to our risen Lord and Savior. Sometimes being obedient doesn’t make much sense on paper but in eternity it is everything.

In the midst of her own poverty, this woman was willing to give her (probably) most valuable thing to Jesus. She did a beautiful thing to Jesus. Is my attitude the same as hers? Would Jesus say, leave him alone, Jeromy has done a beautiful thing for me? Could Jesus say that about you? Let’s determine in our hearts and minds to do something beautiful for Jesus. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s workmanship (His masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What “beautiful” work has God created you for? Are you willing to do it, no matter what it could cost you? Today my answer is YES!!!

Blessings

Jeromy Guthrie

(painting by Harold Copping)

Want to be apart of the unstoppable spread of the Good News around the world?

Consider supporting our summer mission trip to Cologne!

If you are one of the fortunate ones who will actually get some of Uncle Sam’s money back this year in a tax refund, we ask that you consider making a tithe and/or offering of your refund amount to support the work of the gospel in Germany. We have been invited by some missionary friends with Greater Europe Mission (www.gemission.org) to be a part of X10 this summer. Below is some information regarding this movement from our friend, Missionary/Church Planter Adam Gascho.

WHAT IS X10? X10 is a missional, cross-cultural immersion experience designed to inspire, train, and mobilize the emerging generation to reach Europe with the Gospel of Jesus this summer and beyond. Our vision is to mobilize and activate 100 North Americans to converge on the 10 most influential cities in Europe.

WHY Cologne? With a population of 1 million, Cologne is the 4th largest city in Germany, and the surrounding area is the most densely populated region in the country. An important center for the arts, fashion and media, Cologne has a significant impact on all of Germany. Cologne also boasts the largest university in the country with close to 100,000 students from all over the world. Known for its magnificent cathedral (the #1 tourist site country-wide) Cologne is traditionally known as strongly Catholic; however, the church is rapidly declining in numbers and in its significance in the lives of its people. At the same time, a growing number of foreign nationals (many of whom are Turkish Muslims – approximately 100,000) are becoming increasingly visible and influential in changing the face and feel of the city. The evangelical church in Cologne is largely stagnate, making up less than 0.5% of the population. The ground is hard, but God is on the move, and when a time of harvest hits Cologne, the entire region, country, continent and world will take notice and be positively affected.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? GEM missionaries Adam and Bethel Gascho are looking for a team to join them in their search for people who are receptive to the Gospel. This will involve a lot of time on the streets of the city praying, engaging people in conversation, sharing the Gospel, meeting people in parks and cafes, etc.

We feel that it is part of God’s will for us to participate in this mission this summer. But we cannot do it without your help. Please pray for us as we prepare for the trip, get our team together, and raise our support. If you are willing to give toward our trip, all gifts are tax deductible. We will be gone Aug. 6-14th, with 7 full days on the field. Our costs have been cut down due to us being able to arrange housing with a local family. Our total cost for meals, expenses, ground travel, etc. is approximately $3000 for our whole family. This does not include airfare. We are working hard to raise the money ourselves by doing yard sales, book sales, miscellaneous extra jobs -- but we need to raise more. So if you are willing, please send your gift/offering to:

Project 14:6 , PO Box 958021, Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 (Please designate in the memo line: Germany Mission Trip)

One more thing . . . we are still open to accepting more people on our team. If the idea of serving God for a week in Germany this summer excites you, please pray about joining us. We would love to take more workers into the harvest! Feel free to email us with any questions you may have.

Blessings in Christ’s Name,

Jeromy, Jessica, Reagan and Eli

Denn wir sind Gottes Werk geschaffen in Christus Jesus zu guten Werken, die Gott im voraus für uns zu tun bereit zu tun.Epheser 2,10

Why Simple Churches Don’t Work, Reason #1

Why Simple Churches Don’t Work, Reason #1

In Honor of my son's Birthday. A Story about Praying

Here is something I posted a couple a years ago on http://heartaliveblog.com/ I thought I would repost it. today in honor of Eli's birthday.

Church: Undercover #4 (a story about praying)

The other day I took my 4 yr old son, Eli, to get a hair cut. While he was sitting in the chair we kept looking at each other in the mirror. He was being his typical self while enduring the scissors and clippers. He was being quiet, a little shy. As his eyes caught mine in the mirror he would give me this shy little smile that I have seen 100 times now. It was like this unspoken heart language we have saying “I love you dad, I love you son”. Being a dad is an amazing thing. In fact, a regular thanksgiving prayer of mine is “Lord, thank you for letting me be Reagan and Eli’s dad, help me to…..” I think that one of the most important things any parent will ever do for his child is pray and intercede for them constantly. If there is any hope of me preparing my children for life, I cannot do it without prayer. In fact, prayer was the very foundation of my son’s life.
I never will forget what I learned about prayer the day he was born. The night before, my wife and I were resting at home. We had just put our daughter to bed and were just enjoying some quiet time alone. It was late. Then it happened. My wife started bleeding very badly. We would come to find out later that her placenta had detached, and this caused her water to break. The only problem was that it was 10 weeks early. I admit that I was scared, but under God’s grace I was able to remain focused enough to call 911. Once the paramedics came, my immediate reaction then was to call a couple of people who I knew would absolutely drop everything they were doing and start praying for us immediately. We would come to find out later that my wife lost so much blood that she was just a fraction away from a transfusion. That was almost 5 years ago. My wife and Eli are fine now and I am grateful for it.
The first 24 hrs of Eli’s life were uncertain, and the doctors could not give us 100% guarantee that he would live. Several things were wrong; the most crucial one was that his lungs had not had time to fully develop. They were giving him all kinds of medicine, asking my permission, explaining things to me…but it was all numbing. Within 24 hours things changed so much and kept changing. Perhaps the hardest decision I had to make was when we found out that the hospital’s NICU was not able to give Eli the care he needed. He needed to be transported to Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs. Now, on top of everything else, my wife was going to be in one hospital and my son in another across town.
How could I be there for both of them?
‘How could I leave my wife behind?
But at the same time, we did not want Eli to be alone his first night, especially given all the circumstances and uncertainty. So I painfully left my wife in the hands of the nurses and we both agreed that it was best for me to be with Eli. I can’t imagine what Jess went through that night. But it did not seem right for Eli to be all alone.
We both wanted him to know we were there for him.
My wife was allowed to hold Eli for about 60 seconds before they took him away in an ambulance to the other hospital. It would be days before I, or anyone else, would be able to hold him. I was barely allowed to touch him. I will never forget going to the hospital and walking in the unit after they had transported him and got him settled in. There was so much pain and discomfort in his face. There were so many tubes and IV’s in him. If he could have made any noise you could not have heard it.
There I was, sick babies all around me. All born too early, all struggling to grow and survive.
However, in my own selfishness of the moment all I could see or think about was my son.
I stood there quietly praying over my son, trying to be respectful of the noise limits in the room. When Eli’s nurse walked up she interrupted me and said, “you don’t have to pray so quietly.” And then she led us both in this intercession for my son, you would have had to have been completely deaf not to hear her.
Even the next nurse on night shift turned out to be a fellow sister in Christ. She also prayed with me and for me and Eli. I would come to find out later her story and how she and the other nurses would daily walk over and pray for every child there. It was their mission… their calling.
There is a lot I remember about that time. But I want to point out a couple of specific things.
First, I found out that the church exists in the NICU at Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs, not because it was in a building. It was not even in a building as our culture defines church. The church existed because 2 or more followers of Christ were present.
Prayers and thanksgivings were being made to God, in Jesus’ name. There was fellowship among us and I was greatly encouraged and lifted up in my time of need. Ministry and service for God’s Kingdom was happening. It did not happen in some building decorated by pews, pulpits and steeples.
It happened right where the need and opportunities were.
Second, it is important to see that there was a group of nurses and other staff there, probably from different denominational backgrounds, but united. United and focused on one common purpose. To pray, in Jesus’ name, for the children and families of those in need. I can almost bet that most of the children and families probably will never know about this. Although, I am sure that some do.
I wonder how God will reward their obedience.
I wonder how many have been so touched or moved that their hearts are changed by our loving God, forever, because of the love these ladies showed to them and their child. I wonder what the answered prayers look like. I also am aware that there are instances, unlike my own with Eli, where the child never leaves the hospital alive. I wonder how much pain has been healed in a grieving parent’s heart, because of the unseen things done by some faithful followers of Christ.
God’s word instructs us to pray for all people, to intercede on their behalf. I am grateful for those that prayed for my son that night. I am grateful for the people in my life that pray for me. I am honored to pray for others. I hope you are too. I hope you have some people close to you that intercede for you on a regular basis. Prayer is a powerful tool we have in the kingdom work of being missionaries. It connects us to God. It helps us to grow close to Jesus and be able to follow His commands. It connects our hearts closer to others.
It can happen any time, anywhere.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Tim. 2:1 (NLT)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col. 4:2 (NLT)
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Eph. 6:18 (NLT)