» Connecting with God

the Jesus prayer

vsschreffler — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:34:49 +0000

Been talking to a lot of people about depression, anxiety, ptsd, etc. these days. One person was telling me about how when she’s stressing her breathing becomes faster and faster. Someone else has the opposite problem. When this person stresses they just stop breathing.

I told them about the ancient practice of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me.” It’s a prayer taken right out of the Bible and brings just about everything together in one simple sentence. It’s often suggested that you tie this prayer to your breathing–or your breathing to this prayer. While you’re inhaling you pray, “Lord Jesus Christ”, and then while you’re exhaling you pray, “Son of God have mercy on me.”

Seriously, it’s amazing. In less than a minute you begin to feel the calm of the presence of the Lord. A few minutes of this praying and the stress or trauma your facing doesn’t seem quite so monstrous anymore.

Worth a try–and you don’t even have to be freaking out to do it. This prayer is even good when you’re feeling peaceful already!

3 for 3 for 3

vsschreffler — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:59:28 +0000

I was innocently minding my own business, wrapping up the sermon with a prayer when it seemed God interrupted the routine with the idea to invite the people at the service to join together (metaphorically) each weekday @ 3 for prayer–wherever we happen to be at the time. Since Pentecost is this Sunday, May 23, and since Pentecost is about God’s Holy Spirit filling the church, the body of Christ, Christians–collectively and individually we agreed to pray for God to give us the Holy Spirit in extraordinary ways.

For this week.

But then, something else started rattling round in my mind–I think it was the quiet voice of God. What if we prayed @3 for 3 for 3? What if we prayed each day at 3 in the afternoon, for 3 minutes for 3 people we know who don’t yet know Jesus? I wonder what God would do.

What do you think?

Easter –>Pentecost

vsschreffler — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:33:46 +0000

Easter is where it all comes together. Without it we just have a good teacher with an inspiring example–who’s still dead. But, the Resurrection–Jesus Christ coming back to life in a physical body–changes everything. It is the most important day in Christianity. The day when it seemed like all hope was lost but God broke through with the impossible and conquered sin and its consequence of death. Death is not the last word anymore. Jesus is.

Seek. Serve. Save.

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:34:22 +0000

Always looking for someone to serve in the name of Christ.

What would happen if the church (Jesus-followers) became obsessed with serving others in the name of Christ? What if the church–those who follow Jesus–became more concerned with spreading compassion than condemnation; with helping people up instead of putting others down; with bringing hope instead of shame?
Helping others in the name of Christ means we do the work but he gets the glory. Help for the crisis and hope for eternity–I think that’s our primary commodity.

Prayer Opportunities

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:19:42 +0000

ACTS Prayer Time
Wednesdays @ 6:30 pm in Bldg 2000 (chapel)

Weekly Prayer for our unsaved friends
Fridays @ noon in the Prayer Room 2106 A (office)

Men’s Prayer
Sundays @ 7:30 AM Bldg. 3000 (Sanctuary)

Leader Prayer Time
Sundays @ 9:00am in Bldg 3000 (Prayer Room)