Monday, February 25, 2013

Pardon the Criminal?

CRIME-On this last week of our prayer focus on CRIME as one of the 5 issues that Greater Montgomery struggles with, read this verse and ponder these questions.

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon".ESV

What are you doing to tell others who may have committed a crime, hurt someone else or broken the law, about this verse and how they can come to the Lord who can have compassion and help them start over?

We can complain all the time about crime in our city but are we doing anything about it?

Are we "getting the message" of forgiveness and renewal out to those who need it?

Wondering what what happen if we all shared this verse today with someone who may need God's forgiveness and strength to "turn around"???
NEXT MONTH:  POVERTY

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Praying Across Alabama, Montgomery Site

Praying Across Alabama..
Montgomery Date and Time: Wednesday, March 13.....10a.m. Steps of the Capitol.
(in case of inclement weather, prayer meeting will be in Stakely Sanctuary at First Baptist Church on South Perry Street).

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO COME AND JOIN IN PRAYER for our city and state! For more information contact: Montgomery Baptist Association, 334-271-6227.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Heart Check!

"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart".Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

 
                       HEART CHECK THIS WEEK! 

Is your heart geared toward reaching the Greater Montgomery area for Christ? Are you praying for the people of this area to know the God of Peace that you know? Are you able to "see" your neighbors and friends and family around here through God's eyes?

If not, maybe it is time for a heart check. Ezekiel writes of a promise from God that if you come to Him, he will change your heart! Are you ready? Are you willing to have your heart AND mind changed about the people you live around?

Here are a few verses for you to ponder this week in your time with God:


Romans 12:2
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect". (NLT)

Phillipians 4: 6-8 (NLT)
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise".

Continue to pray for the area of "crime" in our Greater Montgomery area. Pray for Chief Murphy and his staff as they figure out the best ways to protect and serve our city.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Crime

CRIME...it is an ugly word to most of us. If we have been exposed to it(in any form)we have a choice. We can either become bitter and anxious which usually leads to us "generalizing the culture of ALL people who were like the one who harmed us" OR we can see that person through the eyes of God(which we CAN do if we just ask)
Montgomery crime stats are on the rise again and I am wondering if it is because we, as Christians, have stopped praying for crime and those who commit them(or could potentially commit them). Are we bold enough to do that? Pray for the ones who committed the crime or could potentially commit it?

On a personal note, we have had hard lessons this year in our own family and God gave us a choice. Twice in a 6 week span, our family has been faced with others invading our space and violating our safety. Once to our car....once to my son who was face to face with someone who was stealing money from his speech therapists office.They walked in on the guy stealing the money and had no clue as to whether he had a gun or not. He was shaken for a few days afterwards, rightly so, but my son, who has a special insight into life, told me that even though he was afraid, he needed to pray for this man who committed the crime. I asked him why and he said, "because, mom, I have Jesus in my heart and even though I am afraid, I know he will be beside me....we don't know if this guy has Jesus and if he does, he doesn't trust him, does he?"

So, even though my momma instincts were mad and wanted this boy to suffer for scaring my son and his therapist, I had to draw close to the Lord and start praying for this boy who violated my son's sense of safety.


What choice will you make this day as you live for Christ? Crime does not just go on in big cities.......do you think Midland City thought this incident of late would ever happen there?

Specifically, pray for Chief Kevin Murphy.......for wisdom as he discerns how to best work with this city on reducing crime! He understands that there are underlying problems that cause the crime, so lift him up so he can know what is best.

Jesus said: "But I say to you, love your enemies and bless the one who curses you, and do what is beautiful to the one who hates you, and pray over those who take you by force and persecute you". Matthew 5:44