Today, on the Global Day of Prayer, millions of Christians from 200+ nations prayed together. What'll the ACLU and US courts do about that!?

Today, the Global Day of Prayer, millions of Christians from 200+ nations prayed together. What'll the ACLU and U.S. courts do with that?

Those who will be attending our banquet tonight with Arthur Blessitt (of the movie "The Cross") are in for an amazing ride! God is up to something huge! Hope you experience "a huge day" in the Lord as well.

I'll teach you to write your book in days, not months, and get it published immediately! Mar 26-27. http://ping.fm/nZrqT

My two minute video-mail for you at: http://ping.fm/0OtTa
Join us this weekend!

My seminar "How to Write Your Book & Get it Published" this Fri nite and all day Sat in Houston. Info, email: seminar.lakewood@gmail.com

Largest abortion clinic in western hemisphere in Houston? Thousands here today say, "NO, not in our city!"
Blessings,
Eddie
U.S. PRAYER CENTER

www.usprayercenter.org
www.PrayerBookstore.com
www.TeachMeToPray.com

Thousands gather praying for God stop the bldg of largest abortion cntr in America in Houston
Blessings,
Eddie
U.S. PRAYER CENTER

www.usprayercenter.org
www.PrayerBookstore.com
www.TeachMeToPray.com

Watch this dude create & send 100 premium quality photo Christmas cards in 3-4 minutes and never lick a stamp or envelope! Ask me how.

Making room for 3 new coaching clients. Ready to write your book quickly and easily? Email me: coachingtoday@cs.com

I shook former Pres G.W. Bush's hand yesterday! I said, "God bless you Sir." He replied, "Every day."

Here's how Alice and I will send out our Christmas cards this year! http://ping.fm/Hw7aY

What Ever Happened to Revivals

My friend and brother, Phil Miglioratti with the National
Pastors Prayer Network has posted an article of mine. I
encourage you to read it. Click on the title above to read it.

Eddie
www.EddieAndAlice.com

About to speak at USC, Los Angeles shortly. Looking forward to it.

Just found something new. Follow me at:
http://ping.fm/i5WzT
Blessings!

I have openings in my "coaching writers" program. Is it time to write your book? Let's do it!

From beautiful Honolulu: 3-days rest; 4-days work. Join Alice next wk in Denver, CO & me in Springfield, MO. Details? email: usprayercenter@cs.com

Alice and I were newly wed evangelists who lived on the road in a motor home. We became so financially challenged at one point that we were concerned we'd not be able to make ends meet.
So the next year, we double-tithed (20% of our
income) to our church. By year's end, we were more financially burdened than we were at the beginning. And yes, we were careful about our stewardship.
The next year I suggested that we triple tithe. So, we began doing so.
Thankfully, in February of that year, God revealed to us why our giving wasn't producing a return. Learn 10 reasons GIVERS can be financially strapped. Call and order the teaching CD. 800-569-4825

Alice and I teach a conference 10am and 1pm Saturday at Katy Christian Ministries, 5011 E 5th St, Katy, TX 77493; and Taylor High School in Katy on Sunday morning. You are welcome.

Join me Tuesday for an all day marketplace prayer/evangelism workshop. No charge. Meals provided. Gifts. Great experience! Email me for more info. usprayercenter@cs.com

Writing tip: To describe a man who threw a fishing net into the water yesterday, do you say: "He casted the net," or "He cast the net?" For conjugations, goto: verb2verbe.com

You may know that I coach writers, "shepherd authors" and teach writing seminars. Hey, what's the biggest writing problem you have?

Enjoyed a wonderful group of writing students at my writing seminar in Austin over the weekend. They each have great potential. Let me coach you!

Gearing up to teach my "How to Write Your Book and Get It Published" seminar in Austin, TX this Fri and Sat. Hope to launch some grt new authors!!

What a blessed week. Hope you've had one too. Spent time in Buffalo, NY and Rockford, IL in marketplace ministry. More than 400 pastors in a pastors' luncheon on Tuesday in NY. God is doing great things today!!

In the large ministry with whom we've worked behind the scenes, 792 business people recorded their first-time decisions for Christ this past week. That brings the total this year to more than 11,000! What a wonderful day to be alive. We see God do more in a month that we saw Him do in a year in the 1960s-90s!

Are you one of the 86% of people who say they would like to write a book? If so, look for my next "How To Write a Book and Get It Published" seminar in your area:
http://www.intermediapub.com/seminars.htm

Have you found the "center of the Internet universe"? Download my free toolbar and organize your entire Internet experience on one page!
http://www.eddiesmith.ijango.com

Discretionary Warfare

By Eddie Smith

W hen it comes to spiritual warfare, how can you know when you are to engage in direct confrontation with the enemy? The answer to this question is more complex than it may appear. Is the answer, "anytime you encounter the enemy?"

If you haven't discovered it yet, you will one day realize that there are more demonic spirits lurking around than (as we say in Texas) you can shake a stick at. Long ago I learned the liberating truth that God hasn't assigned them all to me. He doesn't expect me to target every demon I encounter. Why? There are many reasons, I'm sure.

For one thing, some demons that you or I will encounter are pathetically unimportant in the overall scheme of things. They pose so little threat to anyone or anything that we might say that they’re not worth the powder it’d take to blow them up.

Some Christians, in their superstition, continually overrate the enemy. When it comes to war, some of the enemy's uniformed soldiers are significant threats. They shoot mortars or drop bombs. However, others who wear the same uniform cook meals or type letters. That’s how it is with your enemy. Simply put, the target value of some of the demons you’ll encounter is frankly insignificant. Don't waste your time with them.

The assignment of some of the enemy's troops IS to distract and divert you. If you naively believe that you’re assignment is to shoot at anything that moves, you’ll fall right into their hands and miss your assigned targets—those tasks God has selected for you.

I’ve seen a troubling trend with some well-intentioned people. They focus so much on fighting for Christ that they do a lousy at living for Him. By continually focusing on demons, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, they literally attract them. They wear a spiritual target on their back.

They look for, listen to, and sense spirits of darkness so easily, believing that their sole assignment in life is to engage in spiritual battle, that they are dogged by demons, who want nothing more than their attention and always love a good fight. These people live a sad, negative, and troubled life, and perhaps sadder still, so do those who love them and live with them.

How would you know if that is characteristic of you? Listen to yourself. Consider your words and your thought-life. When it comes to spiritual things, what percentage of your thoughts and words do you direct toward darkness?

Although young David certainly knew King Saul was demonized, his personal assignment from God wasn't to command Saul’s demon to leave. His assignment was to worship. His focus wasn't on darkness at all, but on the Lord.

Was it David’s music that overcame Saul’s demon? Not at all. It wasn't David's musical skill that did the job. The God of heaven who inhabited David’s praise overcame Saul's demon.
David directly confronted the enemy while maintaining his focus on God! Unusual? Perhaps it’s not as unusual as it might seem.

Consider tithing. Is there a spiritual warfare component to tithing? You bet there is. When I tithe, God "rebukes the devourer" for my sake. Now you tell me, what can the Devil and his forces possibly fear more than a direct rebuke from Jehovah? And guess what! It only costs me 10%. Wow, what a deal! (More later...)

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By "prayer coach", Eddie Smith. His newest book, How To Be Heard in Heaven: From Needs-Driven to God-Centered Prayer is now available at: www.PrayerBookstore.com

Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com

The Spiritual Aviary

By Eddie Smith

What kind of “spiritual bird” have you been?

I am afraid that too many in the church today are just standing around like the proverbial ostrich—they have their heads buried in the sand, spiritually speaking.

They’re almost oblivious to what God or the devil is doing in the earth. Furthermore, their view of Satan seems to be “If I can’t see him, he can’t see me. If I don’t bother him, he won’t bother me.”

Other Christians are flitting around from conference to conference, seminar to seminar like spiritual hummingbirds flitting from blossom to blossom. They are always looking for their next sip of spiritual nectar. They never plug into the body of Christ and meaningfully relate to its members. They’re much too spiritual for that!

Some Christians could be likened to the wise old owl. They are consumed with learning. But Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “I have grown and increased in wisdom . . . I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, . . . but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind” (Eccles. 1:16–17).

Many in the church are so busy studying what God did in the past that they’re not even aware of what He is doing in the present!

As pastor and author Steve Meeks said, “The Bible is not the meat, it’s the menu! The meat is in the street. Too many Christians are eating the menu and not the meat.” Steve means no disrespect to Scripture. He is reminding us that acquiring spiritual knowledge should not be seen as an end in itself. We are to be about the business of extending the kingdom of God!

Finally, there are those Christians who are living as spiritual buzzards. Like scavengers, they look for dead or dying things. Rather than offer joyful, loving encouragement, they continually offer criticism and condemnation. Rather than soar with the eagles, they circle with the vultures. They are a drain on the church and a reproach to Christ.

I want to be like the state bird of Texas, the mockingbird. Mockingbirds are tough. If its nesting, a mother mockingbird will attack an 18-wheel truck that comes within a mile of its nest!

A Holy Spirit filled believer is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. Be bold! You have overcome them!

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By "prayer coach", Eddie Smith. His newest book, released just this week, How To Be Heard in Heaven: From Needs-Driven to God-Centered Praying is now available at: www.PrayerBookstore.com

Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com

(c) Copyright, Eddie Smith, 7814 Colony Point Ct, Houston, TX 77095

(Permission to distribute granted as long as the resource box below the article remains intact.)

A Bigger View of Father God

In 1957, when I was in high school, my father was pastor of First Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas, a beautiful border city. I recently found an old 1957 Texas Baptist Annual that listed church statistics of that year. Curious, I looked up First Baptist, McAllen.

To my amazement, I discovered that Dad's church averaged over seven hundred people in Sunday school attendance that year, in a town where non-Catholics comprised only 3 percent of the population. That's considered a large church by today's standards. But for that time and place, his was a megachurch!

Interestingly, when I was a child, although I knew he was a wonderful dad, it never dawned on me that he was a particularly successful pastor.

Then I thought about our four children. It wasn't until they were adults that they began to grasp that Mom and Dad are more than Mom and Dad. They began to understand that we are people with dreams, responsibilities, demanding roles, and levels of influence outside of the family. As children they assumed, as we all did, that Mom and Dad's world revolved primarily around them.

During our first few years of life, we related to our parents according to who they were to us. We had tunnel vision. As preschool children, we knew our fathers only in their role as "Daddy." Caring for our needs was their only role in life--wasn't it? We were blissfully unaware that our daddy was an attorney, a doctor, a factory worker, a farmer, a manager or that he held any other position or had any responsibility other than to meet our needs.

In time, our view began to broaden. If you had siblings, you began to realize that your parents were their parents too. Gradually your parents' other roles began to register with you.

You discovered that they shared a relationship with each other that hardly included you--they were husband and wife. Who knew?! And, although differently for each of us, we eventually discovered that our parents had relationships, roles, and responsibilities outside the home that were not newly acquired; they'd had these all along. We were simply becoming aware of them.

The same is true with our heavenly Father and our relationship to Him through prayer. Most of us realized the importance of prayer in a time of need. If you've been praying since childhood, you came to God as you were instructed by your parents, teachers, and pastors. You likely learned to pray when you were fearful, or when you wanted something. Prayer was little more than that.

If you came to God for the first time as an adult, perhaps you learned to pray as a result of the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a job loss. Adults typically come to God in prayer because they have a need. It isn't wrong to pray in these circumstances; God is here to meet our needs. But that isn't where our prayers should stop. There's much more!

It's time for us to climb to the summit, look over the crest of this mountain, and view the vast horizon. From here, we can see things beyond—the expanse of eternity lies before us. We can get a great view of God's kingdom, our place, and the place of prayer in it!

Daddy has called us into partnership—to joint-venture with Him in the family business—extending His kingdom on the earth! And prayer is one of our primary tools! Let's not just sit here. Let's get to work!

Successful Prayer

By Eddie Smith

There is no magical prayer, or magical form of prayer that God always answers affirmatively. “What about the prayer of Jabez?” some might ask.

Well, think about it. If Jabez’ prayer were a prayer with a guaranteed answer, Jesus would have instructed his disciples saying, “Pray the prayer that Jabez prayed.”

Instead, he taught them to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Further, if God had to answer our prayers, he would cease to be God. We would be gods, and he would be reduced to focusing on us, receiving our instructions, and serving up what we order.

Sadly, if you listen to some people pray, that seems to be what they expect! Let me be the first to confess…

One day I was praying one of those oft repeated parental prayers for one of our sons. I don’t remember my exact words, but they were something like, “Oh God, fix my son. He’s into this, and into that. He needs this, and he needs that. God, how long must I pray before you move in his life?”

With that the Holy Spirit abruptly interrupted me. He said, “Eddie, that’s not prayer. You’re slandering me.”

Shocked and befuddled, I said, “Slandering you, Lord? What do you mean, I’m slandering you? You know I’d never do that.”

God continued, “Alright, allow me to interpret what you just prayed. First, you obviously think that you know your son’s needs, and although I created him, I don’t.

Secondly, it sounds as if you feel that you love your son, but I don’t.

Finally, you seem to be suggesting that if you were me, you’d already have done something, and I haven’t. Doesn’t that about cover it?”

I had to admit that he was right. After all, he’s God! But I was at a loss as to what I should pray. So, I waited.

After an uncomfortable moment or two I heard prayer coming from my heart to his. It was unlike any I’d ever prayed before. It sounded like this.

“Father, I thank you for loving me and for hearing my prayers. I praise you for the plan and purpose you have for my son--for you wrote the days of his life in your book before he was even born.

I’m grateful to know that your plans are perfect, and your purposes never change. Thank you for assuring me in Philippians 1:6 that what you have begun in his life you will finish.

Thank you for changing his schedule, and bringing people into his life that he never expected to meet. Thank you for reminding him of things Alice and I have taught him since he was a small child…”

From that moment Alice and I began praying a new way for our children.

Six months later our son called Alice and said,“Mother,
I know you and Dad have prayed for me all my life. But you’ve changed the way you pray for me haven’t you?”

She said, “Yes, Son, we have.”

He continued, “It’s been about six months hasn’t it?”

She acknowledged that it had been exactly six months. “But how do you know that?” she asked.

“Mother until six months ago, I’ve felt confused in my mind and condemned in my heart. But for the past six months I’ve felt clear minded and drawn to God.”

Since then, we’ve watched God at work in our son’s life, drawing him ever so slowly to himself.

Thank God, I’m not the only one who God’s ever interrupted while they were praying. God interrupted Joshua when he was praying for Israel, after their defeat at Ai.

Joshua was face down on the ground, covered in sack cloth and ashes. At least I hadn’t gone that far!

God said to Joshua, “It’s not time to pray. It’s time for you to get up and clean house. You folks have hidden forbidden things among your stuff. Your army will never win another battle until you find and rid yourselves of those defiled things.” (See Joshua 7.)

God also interrupted Moses and the Children of Israel at the Red Sea where they were trapped by Pharaoh and the world’s greatest army. You might say they were “caught between the devil and the deep blue sea”; or as we say in Texas, “between a rock and a hard place.”

They cried out (actually whined) to God about their circumstance. God’s response? He said, “Folks, This is no time to pray. Moses, raise the rod and split the sea.” And he did! Since he interrupted Joshua and Moses, I didn’t feel too badly when he interrupted me. (See Genesis 14.)

In my new book, How to Be Heard in Heaven: Moving from Needs Centered to God Centered Praying , I don’t promise to teach you how to get what you want from God. But I do hope that by the time you finish reading the book you will know how to be heard in heaven. Why?

Because prayers that are never heard will never be answered!
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By "prayer coach", Eddie Smith, from his soon-to-be-released book, How To Be Heard in Heaven. Pre-order this new book at www.PrayerBookstore.com

Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com

Don't Expect Those Golf Balls to Hatch

By Eddie Smith

Most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that voicemail is an irritating, yet necessary part of our lives. Consider what it would be like if God installed voicemail on heaven’s switchboard. Imagine praying and hearing the following:

Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3

Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for requests
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others

I am sorry; all our angels are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us, and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.

If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy Spirit, press 3

To find a loved one who has been assigned to heaven press 5, and then enter his or her Social Security number followed by the pound sign. If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666.

For reservations to heaven, please enter J-O-H-N followed by the numbers, 3:16.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs and life on other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven.

The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.
If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your pastor.
Thank you and have a heavenly day.

(Author Unknown)

Legendary radio news commentator Paul Harvey reports a true story about a stork in Florida that mated with another stork, then built her nest near a golf course.

She faithfully sat on her nest for weeks until naturalists discovered that she was sitting on a pile of golf balls—not eggs! It’s fair to say that had she sat there for the rest of her life she’d not have produced a thing.

Some folks feel like sincerity and consistency are the keys to answered prayer. I suggest there is more to praying and being heard in heaven, than sincerity and consistency.

Can we ever forget the annoying Verizon® cell phone commercial that posed the burning question, “Can you hear me now?” However, when it comes to prayer, there isn’t a more important question for us to ask? I’m sure you’ll agree that being heard is infinitely more important than praying.

At any given moment, billions of people around the world are praying. How many do you suppose are speaking to the Living God? More important, how many of those who are, do you think, he hears? Obviously he will not answer a prayer he doesn’t hear.

In Matthew 6:7 Jesus said of the heathen who babble repetitious prayers, “They think they shall be heard for their much speaking.” We're told that God won't hear those who "regard iniquity" or as the Message Bible says, "Are cozy with evil." And James tells us that a double-minded person should not think that he or she will receive anything from the Lord. (See James 1:5-8.)

To spend one’s entire life praying prayers that aren’t heard in heaven is as fruitless as a stork trying to hatch a nest full of golf balls!

Certainly, what we say in prayer is important, but we shouldn’t forget that it’s the person, not the prayer that God hears. He doesn’t answer prayer. God answers praying people. So, in your quest to be heard in heaven, become a person God listens to.

One of my life goals is to be a person God hears. As my wife Alice points out in her best-selling book Beyond the Veil, God doesn’t have favorites, but he does have intimates.

Crowds followed Jesus. The twelve were his disciples who walked with him daily. However, Peter, James, and John were intimates of Jesus. And John is described as “the disciple Jesus loved.” Or at least, that’s how John saw it. (See John 13:23.)

That’s my life goal. Why not make it yours goal too!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From Eddie Smith's soon-to-be-released book, How To Be Heard in Heaven
Preorder yours today at: www.prayerbookstore.com

Enroll in his free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com
Donate securely online:www.usprayercenter.org

Resources:
www.prayerbookstore.com
www.windsoffire.com

Donate securely online
www.usprayercenter.org
Thank you. Your income-tax deductible gifts help us evangelism and equip the nations.

Two Memorable Minutes

By Eddie Smith

Last week I was privileged to meet Dr. Robert Schuller, of Crystal Cathedral fame backstage at the RCA Dome, home of the Indianapolis Colts. He had just spoken to thousands of business people at a large business seminar. Eighty-one-year-old Dr. Schuller is still brilliant.

Perhaps partly because my own eighty-eight-year-old father, who was a minister, died about this time last year, I wanted to see and hear Dr. Schuller. Suddenly, to my surprise I realized that he was about to walk by me.

I wondered how I might bless him without being an annoyance, or obliging him to chat with me, a total stranger, when suddenly he stopped, turned to me, extended his hand with a smile, and our eyes locked.

Nervously I said, "Dr. Schuller, you are a national treasure." He paused momentarily, leaned toward me only inches from my face, gently poked my chest with his index finger, and in little more than a whisper as if it were our little secret, he said, "And so are you, my friend." With a smile he turned and walked away.

A few steps later he stopped his assistant, turned and pushed back through the adoring crowd and returned to me. As if there was yet more to "our little secret" he cupped his hand over his mouth, smiled and spoke with a wink, "You know it takes one to know one." With that, he gave me a fatherly pat on the shoulder and walked on.

...Unforgettable!
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By Eddie Smith, who along with his wife Alice invite you to join more than 6,000 students from more than 80 nations who are currently enrolled in their free 52 week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com

Purifed or Protected?

"Calamity is about to befall America." Every week, for years now, I've received prophetic e-mails expressing that sentiment in one form or another. God gives us these warnings so that we may pray, and also prepare.

First, you can rest assured that someday they will all be verified. After all, the United States is at war. We will be attacked. That's what wars are about. Besides, natural disasters will continue to occur on this fallen planet as well.

Every believer is engaged in a spiritual war as well. We were born on a battlefield where war has raged for millennia between Satan and our Father. There's nothing new about this either. And our bodies are dying by the day.

The question isn't, “Will America suffer disaster?” But rather, “When will America suffer the next disaster?” And the harder question, “What will ‘the sifting’ of America produce?

God doesn't actually sift us. But He does allow Satan limited permission to sift nations and saints for His purposes. Perhaps most notably, Job and Simon Peter.

When the sifting comes, it's comforting to know that even Satan is the Lord's, and is therefore on "God's leash."

Although Job was a righteous man, he was also a fearful man (see Job 3:25). Through his sifting, he learned that one who owns nothing, need not fear losing anything!

Peter, who promised Christ that he could be trusted, would soon deny even knowing Christ!

However, when Jesus prayed for Peter it wasn't that he wouldn't be sifted. Instead, Jesus prayed that Satan's sifting of Peter would strengthen Peter so that he could strengthen others.

In 47 years of ministry I’ve never had anyone, who was going through trial, ask me to pray for their development. The request is always for their deliverance.

Pray that God will place a restraining order against the devil. "Deliver us from the evil one." But also pray that when we are sifted, and we will be, that we will be purified as well as protected. God bless America—and purify her!
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Eddie Smith and his wife, Alice, both best-selling authors and
internationally known conference speakers offer a free school of prayer
at www.TeachMeToPray.com

The Power of Single-Minded Prayer

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8

The power of single minded prayer is all about congruency in prayer. Webster defines congruency as "a point of agreement." The Scripture says if you need wisdom, you should ask God. What is asking God? It is prayer! But when you ask, when you pray, the Word says, you must believe, not doubt, and pray in agreement with God’s will. The person who doubts receives nothing from God. Why? Because doubt is contrary to God’s nature—it’s incongruent!

Many Christians believe they are praying in faith, but when you put them under God’s cat-scan, it reveals they are not single minded at all – the requests they are making of God, their self-talk (meditations), their conversations with others, and their behavior regarding their request all demonstrate different, even conflicting expectations. Their prayers aren’t congruent…

There are several truths I want to discuss with you. The first is: If we are to be heard in heaven and see God answer our prayer, we must know the God to whom we are praying. We learn in the book of Genesis that He is the Creator. So it makes sense, when we pray to the Creator that we expect Him to answer us creatively.

Think about this. When you pray, "God, please let me get that job," you are basically praying, "God, please do for me the thing I have already decided is best for me. I’ve done all the thinking, all you have to do, God, is copy me, I have it lined out: give me the job."

Can you see how this prayer in itself transgresses the nature of God, Creator? You aren’t asking Him to create His unique plan for you. You are asking Him to produce for you what you have already decided is best.

So you are not praying to God as He is: a Creator. You are not praying for His creativity. You aren’t asking Him to do "Above all that you can ask or even think" (Ephesians 3:20). You are just asking Him to do as you say.

Now think about this: why are you giving God instructions? Why are you trying to engage God in your plans and purposes, instead of recognizing that He has plans and purposes and a will for you? ...bigger than you realize!

I think some folks feel that the devil must spend all his time working on how to mess up their lives. They might be surprised to discover that they are not Satan’s primary enemy. The devil’s enemy is our heavenly Father. Satan’s at war with our daddy. Problem is there are only two ways he can hurt God. The first is to hurt you. When Satan hurts you, it certainly hurts your Father. The second, Satan’s favorite and most effective way to hurt God, is to get one of us to hurt Him.

You know this is true, if you’re a parent. No one can hurt Alice and me like our own children. No one can make us prouder, but no one can hurt us more deeply, either. Why? Perhaps because our children are extensions of us.

We are created in God’s image. Our Creator’s ways are above our ways and He delights in doing things abundantly above all we can ask or think. When we begin to understand this, we may discover that we’ve wasted a lot of words instructing Him, and praying for things which He can’t and won’t do because there’s no "point of agreement."

Find out what we can and should pray for and pray those things. What Jesus is praying for in heaven (Heb 7:25), and pray those things on earth so the answers can come. (See Matt 18:18-20.)

Perhaps rather than creating our own list of requests determined by our needs, we should focus on the point. The point is God and what He’s doing on earth. God has a plan, a purpose and we need to find out what His plan and purpose is and pray accordingly. This is congruency!

God hasn’t put us here to simply identify and meet needs through prayer. He’s put us here to extend His kingdom – to be light-bearers to those in darkness; to demonstrate His love and fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory; and to exalt His Son, Jesus. It’s crucial for us to move from problem centered to purpose driven prayer. We are here to fulfill a purpose. We need to take our requests, gift wrap them in God’s purposes, and tie them with ribbons and bows of thanksgiving, THEN present them to Him.

But our request is just the first of the four issues that need to be congruent.

1. Our request should be made correctly, as I’ve said.

2. Our meditation should also be right. Did you know that people, who aren’t even crazy, talk to themselves? We all do. Sure you do. The question is not, "Do you talk to yourself." The important question is, "What are you telling yourself?"

You see, you can make the perfect request of our Creator God, and then write "void" on it by meditating contrary to the request. The Psalmist wanted the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart to be acceptable. If we are going to be congruent in prayer, our words and our heart must be pointed in the same direction!

3. Our conversation with others should reflect the faith with which we prayed. We often pray one thing about a person, place, or circumstance, and confess the opposite in our discussions with others. That’s double minded. And remember, a double minded man will get nothing from God! It’s God’s Word, in James, Chapter 1!

4. Our behavior should be an outward manifestation of an inward attitude. Behave in a manner that’s consistent with your request, your meditation, and your conversation. A person can’t pray for the salvation of his or her spouse, treat the spouse like he or she is a "spiritual imbecile," and expect God to move. The way you treat your spouse, child, or friend for which you are praying is also a measure of your faith. Today, treat that person like a spiritual man or woman regardless of what you see, and watch God move according to your expectation!

Watch when you pray. Watch for what, you might ask? Watch for God’s response. Most of us are fixated on our request, not God’s response. Frankly, God’s tired of being ignored. We throw a prayer His way, and about the time He begins to move on it, we throw another one, and another, and never notice what He’s already doing.

Recognize what God’s up to. He knows we will celebrate the final score (the answer) that goes on the board. But He wants us to celebrate every point that goes on the board! He said to me, "Eddie, If you’ll celebrate the movement of my finger, I’ll move my hand for you. If you’ll celebrate the movement of my hand, I’ll move my arm for you. If you’ll celebrate the movement of my arm, I’ll move mountains for you!" God is even congruent in the ways He answers prayer!

If this teaching has been a blessing, there is an audio CD available that's more complete. Order it at: 800-569-4825, Mon-Fri, 9-5, Central

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Ten Things a Woman Respects in a Man

Years ago a couple came to us for marriage counseling who were on the verge of divorce. Why? Because the husband continually failed to lower the toilet seat!

At the time we remembered seeing a gag book entitled, Everything Men Know About Women, which is comprised entirely of blank pages! That young man certainly didn’t have a clue! Thankfully, we can report that they are happily married today. Generally speaking, however, men really don’t understand women. But why?

God created men and women with diversity. He gave them both a need and a desire for one another. But He wired them biologically and psychologically differently. Your Failure to understand this will create continual tension and frustration in your relationships.

1 Corinthians 7:3 says, "A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife and each should satisfy the other's needs." It is a husband’s job to learn God’s expectation for him and understand his wife’s needs. Sadly, some men treat the woman they love more like a hunting buddy than a lady.

Here are ten things we’ve learned that women respect in a man?

1. A woman respects a man with a sense of humor.
In poll after poll, when asked what they want most in a man, women answer, "A good personality and sense of humor." A woman loves a man who can laugh—and make her laugh. She is impressed with a man who sees the cup as half full, rather than half empty; and delights in a man who thinks positive thoughts and shuns negativity (see Phil. 4:8).

2. A woman respects a man of vision.
A woman respects a man who knows why he's here and where he’s going. She intuitively knows when her man has no vision, and it leaves her with a sense of insecurity. A man of vision has expectations for the future, and sets goals and works toward the betterment of himself and his family. A woman admires such a man.

At marriage, a woman may feel that she must abandon her gifts, callings and dreams at the altar to fulfill her husband’s. Earn her respect. Blend your dreams with hers. Understand your kingdom assignment and God’s call upon your life. Then discover hers. As you help her fulfill her kingdom potential you will realize your own. That’s covenant marriage!

3. A woman respects a chivalrous man.
Chivalry is almost a thing of the past. One dictionary defines chivalry as "the qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women." A woman never tires of a man opening a door for her or pulling out a chair. She desires flowers, cards, hand-holding, cuddling, long walks, and romantic evenings. She wants her husband to plan special activities.

A woman respects a knight in shining armor who will protect and defend her honor! Sir, never let anyone speak derogatorily of your wife or girlfriend. Fathers, never let a child of yours say anything, in any tone of voice to your wife that you wouldn’t let the man next door say to her.

4. A woman respects a man who takes care of his body.
Scripture teaches that a husband and wife are one flesh (see Gen. 2:24 and Eph. 5:31). The care you show your own body shows your wife that you love her. This means working out, eating correctly and practicing good hygiene.

There is nothing romantic about body odor, clusters of ear or nose hair, armpit stains, yellow teeth or toenails that look like ancient Egyptian artifacts. It is a shame that it takes a "queer eye" to teach a "straight guy" what women want! And no, we’re not suggesting you become an "urban metrosexual male" who streaks his hair and gets his weekly pedicure.

5. A woman respects a man who respects her.
Value her. Weak men, who don’t know who they are themselves, tend to devalue women. Jesus respected women—even women that other men refused to respect. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, a person that no self-respecting Jewish man would have spoken to. He spoke to the woman with the issue of blood, who had risked her life to touch the hem of his garment. His closest female friend was Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. In fact, it was women, not men, who provided financially for His ministry (see Luke 8:1-3).

Treat her as your equal. There is good biblical reason. In the Spirit-led marriage, Paul says to husbands and wives, "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph. 5:21, The Amplified Bible). He explained to the Galatians, "In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ" (Gal. 3:28, The Message).

6. A woman respects a man who talks with her not just at her.
A common complaint from women is that they feel ignored in conversational settings. Some husbands talk to their wives rather than talk with their wives. To talk with your wife you must first understand what talking means to her. Proverbs 13:17 says, "Good communication is critical."

Gary Smalley, who has written extensively about marriage, says that a woman requires 10,000 words a day to communicate. But a man needs only 2,000 words each day. So, don’t be surprised when you come home exhausted from work and are finished talking for the day and discover that she is just getting started. Especially if she has been confined to "baby-talking" with preschoolers all day!

Listen. Here is the best advice we can give you: to a woman, a man listens with his eyes. That’s right—with his eyes! If she’s speaking and you are focused on the television, the computer monitor, or the newspaper, you aren’t listening. Who knew!?

Learn her language. A man is an intellectual processor. He talks primarily to express thoughts, solve problems and arrive at conclusions. When talking about a problem, all a man wants is the bottom line.

A woman tends to be an emotional processor. Your wife talks about her problem primarily to process her emotions, not her thoughts. She’s not wasting words and time.

Rule: If her lips are moving, she’s processing her problem with words. Interrupt her with your solutions at your own peril!

She’ll find relief by talking it out, not by hearing your solution. Just listen (yes, with your eyes).

Talk on her terms. When a wife complains that her husband never talks with her, what she is really saying is, "He never tells me what he’s feeling, what worries him, what his goals and plans are, what he feels about me and our marriage, or whether or not he likes his job? Guys, we know it’s uncomfortable. Men don't generally talk about their feelings like women do. But try it. The benefits will outweigh the discomfort!

7. A woman respects a decisive man—a man with initiative.
Ambitious men attract women. A woman respects a man who is willing to take the bull by the horns, step up to the plate, and accept responsibility. Paul wrote, "The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing [her]" (Eph. 5:23).

A strong woman married to a weak man will tend to do one of two things: Either she will back up in order to get the husband to step forward, or she will step up and assume his roles and responsibilities. Either way, she betrays herself in an attempt to provoke him to manhood. In time, this relationship will suffer.

8. A woman respects a one-woman man.
She wants to know that she is the only woman in your heart. This rules out porn and Internet sex. A godly man will put a guard over his eyes and his heart. It also rules out continual comparisons and/or references to your first wife or your mother. And never discuss intimate things with any other woman but your wife, lest you commit "emotional adultery." (An exception might be in a legitimate counseling setting.)

9. A woman respects a thoughtful man.
Some men tend to have selective memory. He can remember the length and weight of the bass he caught in ‘83, but he can’t remember his wife’s birthday. He can recall the points on the deer he shot in ‘99, but he has difficulty remembering his anniversary. Thank God for PDAs!

Also, you may fail to realize that women need relationships with other women. They communicate socially with one another on a level that men can’t. If you don’t understand this, you may think she is not a good wife or mother because she wants to be with her friends.

A thoughtful husband gives his wife time to be with her friends. He will occasionally take care of the children while she goes to a movie with the girls. In some homes there is a double standard. The wife must meet the husband’s standard of housecleaning or food preparation regardless of how she feels. Even when both are working, the husband often leaves the housecleaning to the wife. At times a thoughtful husband will come home from work and help around the house, even though he’s exhausted!

10. A woman respects a man who loves her.
Colossians 3:19 says, "Husbands give your wife much love and never treat her harshly." A woman’s greatest need is to feel treasured by her husband. Scripture instructs, "Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving not getting" (Eph. 5:25). There are three areas that you can focus on today to express love to your wife:

First: Her kids. Your children came from her body. To her, they are extensions of who she is. If you ignore the children, refuse to encourage and affirm them, or fail to discipline them, as far as she is concerned, you are ignoring her. Not good.

Second: Her house. Your house is her "nest." It is also an expression and an extension of who your wife is. When you married her, your basketball posters came down.
When you ignore a leaky faucet, a burned-out bulb or any other of her concerns regarding the house, you are ignoring her. Learn it.

Third: Her time. She wants to be your friend, as well as your lover. She has many demands on her time, but what she wants is time alone with you! Select a weekly date night, and arrange for a baby sitter. To her, companionship and friendship is more than sharing the same space; it is sharing the same interests, goals and dreams for the future.

The question isn’t, "Do you love your wife?" It’s, "Are you loving your wife?" Love is what you do, not what you feel. How can you know?

We suggest you take 1 Corinthians 13, "The Love Chapter," and insert your name for the word "love." Now read it aloud and ask yourself, "Does this describe me?" If not, then list the areas that need improvement.

Take them before the Lord in prayer. Ask the woman in your life to hold you accountable. Intentionally grow into the man God is calling you to be.

In the bedroom, when it comes to sexual intimacy, the biggest mistake many husbands make is to approach and to offer their wives what they want, rather than take time to learn their wives’ preferences. Generally speaking, women require more time for sexual intimacy than a man. Honor her requests so you can both be fulfilled.

In closing: Benjamin Kublesky, was born on Valentine’s day, February 14, 1894 at Mercy Hospital, Chicago Illinois. Benjamin was a young man working in a studio when he noticed a young woman working there. He was too shy and embarrassed to ask her out. So, he sent a single, red rose to her desk with a note attached to it. He thought it would be a nice expression of beauty and love. Everyday, when she arrived at work, she found a fresh red rose.

One day, she asked the deliveryman who was sending the roses. He told her it was a fellow employee named Benjamin. She looked him up; they began talking, and eventually went out. She assumed that after they went out the roses would stop. But they didn’t stop. A single red rose came every day.

In time they were engaged and although she thought the roses would stop, they didn't. After their wedding day a red rose was delivered every day. Even after their first anniversary, and yes for decades to come, the red roses continued to show up. Then Benjamin died. The day after his funeral, a single red rose showed up; and the day after that. At first Mary was too deeply grieved, but later she went to the florist and said, "I'm sure you realize my husband has passed away. It is kind of you to send the flowers, but you do not need to do this any longer." And the florist said, "Ma'am, you don’t understand. Your husband made provisions years ago to provide you a single red rose every day of your life."

Her husband's wish was granted, and Mary received a long-stemmed red rose every day until June 30, 1983, when she finally rejoined her Benjamin, the man who had loved her so much. Benjamin Kublesky? Yes. But the world knew him as actor/comedian, Jack Benny.
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© Copyright 2006, Eddie Smith, 7710-T Cherry Park Dr, Ste 224, Houston, TX 77095

Eddie and his wife Alice offer a free 52-week school of prayer at www.teachmetopray.com

Souls for Sale?

FoxNews.com
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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Some people in need of a change get haircuts.

Others might splurge on a new shirt or throw caution completely
to the wind and take a different way to work in the morning.
Gerald Fraller, however, sells his mortal soul on the Web. Literally.

Fraller, a 28-year-old guy from Tampa, Fla., is hawking his soul
online because, he says, it's worth more than anything else he's got,
TBO.com reports.

"I'm simply at a point in my life where I need a new direction
and I am selling the most valuable item I have to offer: my very
soul," says Fraller on his Web site www.winmysoul.com.

Wondering what exactly this soul-selling entails?

For just a dollar, interested buyers get one entry in a drawing to
win a legal contract entitling them to specifically designated
controls over and profits from Fraller's very existence, including
a percentage of his taxable income, the right to choose the first
name of his kiddos and an annual report on his life, among other
colorful benefits.

But before you go rustling up an effigy to burn in protest,
know this: Fraller is fully aware his controversial choice might
ruffle some feathers.

"I will be framing the best hate mail that I receive as well as
posting it (with personal information omitted) online for all to
see," he writes on his Web site.

An exact date for the soul sale has not yet been set, but should be
selected by Jan. 30, 2007.

And just in case Fraller gets a major case of seller's remorse and
finds his choice to pony up his very mortal being to be a little
too, well, uncomfortable, he's included a clause in the contract
that allows him to buy his soul back for a cool $1,000,000.
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Hopefully Gerald is simply having fun at other people's expense.
His offer is creative, to be sure. Anyone who'd seriously respond
to it deserves what they get.

If, by some slight chance he's serious, then he's totally misunderstood
what constitutes his soul. It has nothing at all to do with his income,
the names of his children, or how he spends his time.

Were he to truly understand the value of his soul, he'd instantly realize
that he's grossly underpriced it. For, what would it profit him to
gain the whole world, and lose his soul?

Were he to understand this in the light of truth, he'd also realize that
his soul isn't his to sell. His soul was purchased 2,000 years ago
"on a hill far away..."

But I have to admit. In my 46 years in ministry I've seen people
sell their souls for far less. Satan, is always standing by with his bid.

Has God Shown Up Lately?

Years ago, when I was a local pastor, one of my men asked
me in passing, "Pastor, if we get a chance, could we sing my
favorite song this coming Sunday night?"

Dryly (typical of my humor) I said, "I think not, Charles.
We don't worship you."

A couple of years later, during an interview with an editor of
a popular worship magazine I shared that encounter. Perhaps
misunderstanding my humor she asked in a rather condescending
tone, reminiscent of my mother's responses when I irritated her
as a child, "Then Eddie, JUST WHOSE favorite songs do you sing?"

Again dryly, I responded, "Mary, we sing God's favorites songs."

That obviously stressed her a little more, and she said, "Oh, I see.
And I suppose YOU KNOW which are God's favorite songs."

"Yes, Ma'am, we do."

"And exactly HOW would YOU know what God's favorite songs are?"

"It's simple, Mary. When we sing them, God shows up!" I said brightly.

Still miffed she pressed, "And just how is it that you KNOW God when
'God shows up'?"

I replied, "Why Mary. If you have to ask the question, it's obvious
that He hasn't shown up yet."

I pray he shows up in your life and mine today.

Humility or Humiliation?

What is the difference between humility and humiliation?

I see them like this. Picture your life as if you were a 10-story
building. Pride is the penthouse on the 10th floor. Humility is
the first floor. Humiliation is the basement.

As you begin to rise toward pride and ascend to the 2nd, 3rd,
4th floors, or even higher. You come to a choice. You can either
continue to rise to a prideful ruin; because Scripture teaches
that pride comes before a fall.

Or, you can return to the first floor where you humble yourself,
esteem others better than yourself and not think of yourself
more highly than you ought.

If you don't, God will press the elevator button and send you
to the basement--humiliation. Either we humble ourselves, or
force God to humiliate us.

As I write this, I'm staying in a hotel in central Africa, which
by American standards is "Spartan." But it’s the best hotel in
the city.

There is electricity in my room only when I complain. Then,
the question is always, "Mr. Smith, for how many minutes do
you need it?"

I've discovered that it’s difficult to bathe, when the water only
trickles from the showerhead. It's difficult to comb your hair
when the room is too dark to see your reflection in the mirror.
It's difficult to sleep when your room is so hot you can’t stop
sweating.

In moments like these I begin to realize again the many things
I tend to take for granted.

So, by Braille, I will put on my suit and tie, push my hair into
some reasonable shape, sponge-bathe, completely ignore my
electric razor, and make my way across town to the conference
venue where there are hundreds of precious Christian people
some who walked for miles, others rode bicycles for days, or
trains and busses for hours to get here.

They’ve slept on the concrete auditorium floor the past three
nights, eaten food cooked for the over an outdoor fire why?
To hear what God has to say to them through me. Once again
I am humbled.

The next time you complain about your cell phone connection,
remember that 80% of the people on planet Earth have never,
and will never in their lifetime have the opportunity to use a
telephone.
==================================
Eddie Smith is a best selling author and internationally known
speaker and president of the U.S. Prayer Center in Houston, TX.
He and his wife, Alice, offer a free 52-Week School of Prayer at
www.TeachMeToPray.com

"Deliver Us From Evil"

It appears that most believers see this familiar phrase from the Lord's Prayer as a "defensive prayer." The idea is that we live in an evil world, ruled by the evil one (Satan), and this prayer is for Judge Jehovah to issue a "restraining order" that will protect us (deliver us) from them.

It is true that the devil would like to hurt us, and that this world's system is evil. We are certainly surrounded by evil, although the original language it isn't clear whether the "evil one" refers to the devil, or evil men who seek to hurt us. We certainly want deliverance both.

But let's not be quick to separate the phrase "deliver us from evil" from the phrase that precedes it, "lead us not into temptation." For the first phrase provides the context for the second. Temptation demands a response.

Though God never "leads us into temptation," he allows us to be tempted at times. (See James 1:2.) In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray that they might not "enter into temptation," literally they were to pray that they wouldn't yield to temptation--which is sin.

The word translated "temptation" literally means testing or trial. It could be said, "let us not be sifted" as Peter was sifted. Why the sifting? Sifting is to test our mettle, try our faith, to strain off the impurities of our lives.

The prayer is about our being delivered when we are tempted from our inclination to do evil (a fleshly response), as much as for protection from the world, the devil, and wicked people. We might say, "Lord, if possible, don't let me be sifted. But if sifting me is your plan, don't let me disappoint you by responding in an ungodly fashion. Oh Lord, please deliver me from ME!"

Friend, your sifting is coming. It came to Peter, it comes to us. Jesus prayed for Peter; not that Peter wouldn't be sifted, but that the sifting, the trial, the test would be strengthened him so he could strengthen others.

Old Testament saints prayed to be delivered from their circumstances. New Testament saints pray to be developed in their circumstances.

A happily married woman with two children lost both of them. They were buried in the same grave. After that, she suffered a deep emotional collapse. For years her family fed and cared for her as though she was as weak and helpless as a little child.

One day her aunt, a joyful Christian, took her turn at feeding her. The distraught and despondent woman said, "Auntie, you keep on saying that God loves us. I used to think so too; but if He loves us, why did He make me as I am?"

The aunt kissed her gently, said with the wisdom of years, "Dear, He hasn't made you yet. He's making you now!"

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
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Growing Impatient? Tired of Waiting?

Pharaoh told Moses and the Children of Israel to go, leave Egypt (Ex 10:24); then three verses later (v27) we read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them leave! Why the divine delay? It's often said, 'God's delays are not necessarily his denials.' Delays are often, not always, God's doing.

There are at least two reasons:

1. We aren't ready for the next assignment (Ex 13:17-18). Sometimes there are things we must do to become ready. Sometimes there is a work God must do in us to make us ready.

Patience is a virtue. "Longsuffering," a fruit of the Spirit (a characteristic of Christ's nature), is a gift he develops in us, not a gift he gives us. How is it developed? It's developed in our suffering long. Don't misunderstand. We don't "earn it" by suffering. We "learn it" through suffering. In our distress God enlarges us (matures us) (see Psa 4:1). Christ in us (which is salvation) is "the hope of glory." It's the prospect of our bringing glory to God (Col 1:27). But there is more to bringing him glory than having Christ in us. Christ "formed in us" is the fulfillment of that prospect. As Christ is formed in us, God is actually glorified (Gal 4:19)! God's goal is for us to become more like Jesus than we are like ourselves. Our waiting hasn't been wasted! It's part of God's overall process of preparing us for our destiny!"

2. The assignment, location, or people involved with the task aren't ready. There may be things they must do, or a work God must perform in them to make them ready.

Get ahold of these truths. Begin to pray, thanking God (Phil 4:6-7) for preparing you, others involved in this issue, and circumstances and things that will be required for your success. Trust him.

Today, as I write this, I'm enjoying a season of blessing. But it wasn't that long ago that Alice and I wondered if we had offended God. It seemed we had waited so long and had so little to show for it. Sure, our needs were met, but that was it. We knew ways to "make things happen," but God wouldn't let us. Behind the scenes he was busy at work on us and our circumstances setting the stage for our "next performance."

<>If you're in a season of lack, a time of waiting, I promise you, it really is darkest before the dawn. You are nearing the launch of the "greater thing" you were born to do. And, it won't be what anyone else has done. It's a hand-picked assignment for you. Never emulate others. It is a work of the flesh, an expression of faithlessness. It's the sin of questioning God's creative wisdom and and his plan for us. You are "an original." Be bold. Be an original. It pleases God. He is going to respond to you VERY soon. And his response is going to be "exceedingly, above, all that you can ask or think!" Stay plugged in. Polish your glass and hold it high. He's about to fill it. And, he's saved the best wine for last!
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The Unexpected Gift

I was returning from Southern Nigeria where I had spoken at a large pastor's conference. The Nigerian airline I was to fly had canceled my flight because they hadn't sold enough tickets. That delayed my arrival in Lagos by six hours. Unfortunately, the young pastor who was to escort me upon my arrival had already left for the airport, and there was no way to inform him that I would be late. He faithfully chose to wait until I arrived.

Upon arrival in Lagos I discovered that I'd also missed the flight to Belgium and would be delayed six more hours. But my Nigerian host, Pastor George--having already waited at the airport for six hours--was not about to abandon me now. We settled in for what would be his second six-hour wait.

I knew it would be past midnight on Saturday night before he'd get home. I also knew he had to conduct church services the next morning. Feeling guilty for this imposition on his time I suggested that he go home to his family. Nothing doing! He had his assignment and was sticking to it! I tried to offer him help. His continual reply was, "No, thank you."

Eventually I resorted to prayer. "Lord, how can I bless this young pastor?" With that I went to the snack bar to buy us Cokes. While there I noticed a magazine rack behind the counter.

This was not a rack of neat, current magazines. Rather, it was filled with periodicals left behind by travelers. Most of the magazines were at least three months old and were being resold.

At first glance, there appeared to be no Christian literature of any sort. Then to my amazement I saw a copy of Strang Communication's Ministries Today magazine.

Nigerians had already told me how they love that magazine and how hard it is to get one in their country. I knew I had to buy this copy for my host, Pastor George. Much to my surprise the lady charged me $7.50 USD, far more than the original price in the U.S.!

I was even more amazed to find that this was the issue containing the article I had written, "Help Lord! This Prayer Group's Driving Me Crazy" (Sep/Oct, 1997). But I felt as if the Lord placed it there for me in answer to my prayer. It was still in it's unopened clear plastic mailer!

I autographed my article, took it back and handed it to George. When he saw what I was giving him, he wept. I watched him devour the entire magazine for the next hour and a half. As I stood to leave, George pointed to my article and said, "Brother Eddie, I'm going to preach this message to my church tomorrow!"
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Living in Timelessness

The day of my wife Alice's mother Martha's funeral...her "Homegoing
Celebration," I had this thought.

Jehovah God is the I AM. To Him things are always present tense.
He's not the "I was" or the "I will be." And thank God He's not
the "I might be!" He is the great I AM. That's why Scripture can say of us,
we are seated with Him in heavenly places. He is already enjoying
us in heaven, because although it is future tense to us, it's present tense
to Him.

From the moment Martha stepped out of time and into His eternal presence,
away from the rotation of the earth, morning and evening, the hours and
minutes of the day, time and all it represents meant nothing to her. Remember,
a thousand years here, is like a day there. A few years would be only
seconds.

So when walk in, whether it's today, next week, or 50 years from today,
she'll turn around in that "ever present atmosphere," and as though she
saw us only a moment ago she'll ask, "Well, where have you been?"
For there is no passing of time there.

Time passes here. So, we've temporarily said "goodbye" to her.
And for us, waiting to see her again will require both patience and faith.
But Martha? and our other loved ones who've preceded us?
They lose nothing in the bargain!
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Lessons we learn from Jesus' spiritual warfare prayer

(c) Copyright 2006

Then the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faithwill not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples." (Luke 22:31-32, GW).

Almost 2,000 years after Jesus spoke these words to Simon Peter,
Christians continue to debate the validity of spiritual warfare prayer.

However, I suspect that those who argue against spiritual warfare
prayer argue less with Scripture and more with some of our models and
methods. They would say, "Perhaps spiritual warfare prayer is valid, but
what that group is doing can't possibly be it!" In some cases, they may
be correct. There are some things about these two verses that I
find particularly interesting.

First, notice that Jesus is so in touch with heaven (because of His own
intimate prayer life) that He knew what Satan had demanded of the
Father. Remember, Jesus was completely dependent upon the Father
(see John 5:19). Without his daily "military intelligence report" from
heaven, Jesus was helpless. He could do nothing. So, true spiritual
warfare prayer, whatever it is, is absolutely heaven-dependent. What
Satan is doing today is not nearly as important as what God is doing,
when it comes to spiritual warfare!

Second, look at what Satan really wanted. We know Satan's job
description is "to steal, to kill, and to destroy" (see John 10:10). Jesus
said that Satan wanted to sift Peter (and the other disciples) like a
farmer separates the wheat from the husks. But look what Satan1
was actually after. He wanted to separate the Apostles from Jesus!
His war strategy was to "divide and conquer."

Third, Jesus said, "But I have prayed for you." No doubt Peter breathed
a big sigh of relief at this point. He must have thought, What a relief.
For a minute there it sounded like I was going to be sifted, whatever
that means. But Peter's relief was short lived, for Jesus continued, "I
have prayed that your faith won't fail during the sifting." What do you
mean, "During the sifting!?" Why didn't you pray that I wouldn't be
sifted?

Again, Christ wasn't praying according to Satan's agenda. His praying
was based on God's agenda. And at the time, God was developing
Apostles. And Apostles, like you and me, are forged in the fiery furnace
of affliction. At times, God will even allow the enemy to do things in our
lives, in order to accomplish His purposes.

Old Testament saints prayed to be delivered from their circumstances.
New Testament saints pray to be developed by their circumstances.

Finally, you will see that Jesus had no doubt about Peter's ultimate
victory. Why would He? After all, He had prayed in faith for Peter's faith
not to fail. So, he confidently says, "So when (not if) you recover,
strengthen the other disciples!"

A happily married woman with two children lost both of them. They were
buried in the same grave. After that, she suffered a deep emotional
collapse. For years her family fed and cared for her as though she was
as weak and helpless as a little child.

One day her aunt, a joyful Christian, took her turn at feeding her. The
distraught and despondent woman said, "Auntie, you keep on saying
that God loves us. I used to think so too; but if He loves us, why did He
make me as I am?"

The aunt kissed her gently, said with the wisdom of years, "Dear, He
hasn't made you yet. He's making you now!"

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient,
shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy
dross to consume and thy gold to refine."
---------------------------------------------
Eddie Smith offers a free 52-Week School of prayer at:
www.TeachMeToPray.com

(This article may be duplicated and distributed as long as the line
above included.)

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Details: www.TeachMeToPray.com
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Register for our 2006 Prayer and Leadership Conferences
Details: www.PrayerConference.com
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Can God trust us with "the wealth of the wicked?"

Many of us have left unpaid bills in our past, perhaps way back in our youth. We've conveniently "swept under the carpet," with no intention of every repaying.

We may have failed to repay a personal loan from a boss or family member; to pay our income tax, or to tithe (robbing God); left a traffic ticket, an apartment rental, phone bill, light bill, or a student loan unpaid. Rather than pay it, we've unilaterally decided that "“the statute of limitations"” has expired and it's time for us to move on, let by-gone be by-gone, and forget about it.

Some of us feel that because the debt was constituted before we were saved, we are no longer obligated to pay it. If anything, being saved puts a greater requirement on us to pay our bills.

The bottom line.

If this is you, you're a thief, just as truly as someone who would break into your home tonight and steal your possessions. Harsh, you say? Listen carefully...

Some of us are so financially strapped we can't pay our bills. The harder we work the less we have. We've been asking God to force the devil to pay back 7 times what he's stolen from us; when in reality, God is forcing us to pay back 7 times what we've stolen from others.

It should cause us to search our past; make note of obligations we've left unattended; write letters of apology, outlining our plan to repay; and (however small) begin to make restitution. Until we do, we can never be entrusted with "the wealth of the wicked."

Consider it.

Dealing With Life's Turbulence

Last night I abandoned a business trip and flew home to Houston from Portland, Maine to be with my wife Alice, whose mother went to be with the Lord the day before.

It was almost midnight as the plane turned south, near the Texas-Oklahoma border, headed for Houston. There was a major weather system in East Texas that in years past would have caused a cancellation of the flight. Not so, last night.

We cruised at an altitude of more than 40,000 feet, approximately seven and one-half miles high. Above us was a cloudless black sky draped with stars like diamonds. Thousands of feet below us lay a bed of ominous clouds bursting continuously with brilliant flashes of light. It was lightening. We were actually flying above the menacing storm!

I couldn't help but draw the parallel to the way spiritual people like Alice handle life’s difficulties, like the sudden loss of her precious mother. They don't recklessly fly through life’s turbulent problems. No! Filled with the Holy Spirit, totally dependent upon him, they sail above them!

Do we take ourselves too seriously?

Several years ago a magazine editor from New York called to interview me.
I answered my phone and the following conversation ensued.

"Hello, is this Reverend Smith?"
"No. Ma'am."
"I'm so sorry. I was calling to speak with Eddie Smith."
"That’s me, what can I do for you?"
"So this is you, Reverend Smith?"
"Yes, and no. I'm not a reverend."
"My notes say you are a minister."
"I am a minister."
"You're a minister, but not a reverend?"
"Yes ma'am."
"How is that possible?"
"Well, ma'am, I neither revere anyone nor ask anyone to revere me."

"What religion are you?"
"I don't have a religion."
"What? You're a reverend without a religion!?"
"No ma'am. I'm NOT a reverend WITHOUT a religion."
"Why don't you have a religion?"
"Because, God hates them."
"What? I thought religion was God's idea."
"No ma'am. God's idea is relationship."

After a pause, she said with an emotional crack in her voice,
"Eddie?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I wish you had a church in New York City. I think I would like to attend it."