A Request for Prayer

Beginning on Saturday, April 24th I will be teaching/preaching everyday through Wednesday, April 28th. Saturday is the Emerald Coast Sunday School and Small Group Leadership Conference at Olive and Sunday through Wednesday I will be in Jay, FL as part of their community revival.

it can be tempting to believe that all I need to do is ensure that I am well prepared by a well-thought out, biblically-centered, culturally-relevant messages. And when that is completed, outcomes of eternal proportions will occur. While personal preparation is essential, it is not as essential as being in so positioned that God has the freedom to communicate through the speaker. Such a divine encounter can only come when there is a huge covering of prayer.

I don't know about you, but i don't get excited about attending a church service or another conference that is just another religious event where one wouldn't notice if God was in attendance or not. I believe that such a gathering that can just be explained by our efforts is a waste of time.

For that reason, I ask that you be in prayer for me. Here's how:

• Pray that the Holy Spirit might reveal sin in my life that I need to confess and then make life adjustments
• Pray that my mind would be focused on communicating what God desires and not any personal agenda I might be tempted to create or manipulate.
• Pray for me to be able to have undisturbed time of preparation over the next few days.
• Pray that our gatherings can only be explained as "God showed up and changed people."
  
• Pray for those who will listen; not that they will tune into my words, but rather to the voice of God.
  
• Pray during my teaching times: Sat. 9:45 - 10:50; Sunday; 8:30, 11am, 6pm; Monday thru Wednesday at 6pm.

If you would partner with me over the next week, I would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks

Last Day to Sleep In

I'm usually up and going pretty early and easily. Whether the alarm goes off or not, my feet usually hit the floor at 5am or even before, and I'm off to conqueror the day's events. However, ever so often there are days when I just don't want to get out of bed. Usually because i have a hint as to what is coming that day or in the days to come, and I want to sleep through it or at least rest up a little extra.

I wander what Jesus thought today, the Thursday of Passion Week. He had spent all week being celebrated, being questioned, being a teacher, being patient, being aggressive, and just BEING. I wander if He went to sleep a little earlier that Wednesday night outside the city of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. I wander if one of His final miracles before the cross was causing the disciples to stop snoring so that He could sleep.

And then Thursday morning came. I wander if it crossed His mind to stay in bed and rest just a few minutes more (or even a few days). He knew what was on the schedule for the day: one final trip to the city of Jerusalem, an evening spent with His close traveling 12, and then His arrest in the garden, abandonment by His friends, and a night filled with trials, accusations, and beatings.

When He looked at His calendar, Thursday morning was His final day to sleep in until He laid down again Friday afternoon inside a garden tomb.

I'm thankful this Easter Thursday that Jesus got up! Aren't you?

Fight for your marriage?

This blog is about marriage and a call to fight for yours if you are in one and to help those around you fight for there's. I have seen more marriages hurting and crumbling in the last 6 months than I have in my 17 years in the ministry. Daily (yes daily) i am hearing of couple who are preparing to let go of the end of their rope, and daily my heart is breaking for them.

There is the song out there that goes: "love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for."

If your marriage is going well (or at least you think it is), fight hard to improve it. Ask him/her what you could do to strengthen the relationship. Do a self-check on your priorities: God, Spouse, Kids, etc. Go on a date regularly (w/o kids), buy each other something, tell them they look hot (it's not unChristian to tell your spouse they are smokin' hot), attend a marriage conference to learn ways to grow and mature. Find another couple who can hold you accountable and then pray for each other.

If your marriage is not going well, fight hard to improve it. Don't wait for your spouse to change, or primarily work to change your spouse. Remember, the two became one so you start to work on yourself. Get with trusted friends and counsel (2 or 3) and ask people to commit to pray regularly for your marriage. Don't wait to go to counseling with your spouse, you go by yourself and prayerfully they will join you in the journey of healing.

Despite what can be taught out there: God does not want you to get a divorce. It is outside of His will and causes more pain than you think it will cause. I realize that there is only one instance where God permits (not commands) divorce and that is adultery. But know that as long as you are still breathing, there is hope for your marriage - God is still on His throne even when circumstances caused by our selfish decisions seem to rule the day.

I'm not trying to give a commercial, but I want to give a couple helps out there. First, is "stained glass ministries." Dale and Jena Forehand have had a marriage that has been to hell and back again. Learn from their story; it'll help you in your marriage.

Next is FireProof. I know you have probably seen the movie and done the Love Dare. If not, I highly recommend it as Valentine's Day approaches. But further, if you are near Mobile, the FireProof Marriage Conference is coming to First Baptist North Mobile in March. Take your spouse (or if you are engaged, your fiance'). The creators of the movie are hosting a weekend to come alongside marriages that just need a little tweaking or even a major overhaul. Make it a get-away weekend with just you and your spouse, go with another couple, or your whole church - just go.

I don't know how healthy your marriage is , but don't get content wherever it is. You can't change the past, but you can change everything between today and "till death do us part."

Thanks for reading,

BNall