Spokane Orphan Summit (April 21st in Spokane WA)

www.SpokaneOrphanSummit.com 

An upcoming Conference in Spokane for people in every walk of life who want to serve the Lord, live out James 1:27.

Nooni New Testament Bible Dedication

Hello all, as some of you know, I was in Cameroon a few weeks ago celebrating with the Noni people in northwest Cameroon as they received the New Testament in their language for the first time in history. Here is a little video I tried to put together to highlight the event. There is so much to tell, to highlight, etc. but hopefully this will give a flavor for what occurred on Dec. 22, 2011 in northwest Cameroon.

"Dad, that was an empty prayer"

O how the Lord used Ezra last night to convict me of 'empty prayers'.


Tuesday night we have growth group/community group/bible study at some friends house, so we are gone until about 9:00 (or 9:30 as was the case last night) and my mom graciously puts the kids to bed when she is there watching them.

This night Ezra was still awake, so when we got home I went downstairs (a little perturbed that he was still awake) to encourage him to stay in his bed and fall asleep. Of course I wanted to pray with him, so I did...quickly...out of routine to get it done and get him to sleep.

"Jesus, thank you for this great day, thank you for Ezra, I pray that you'd help him sleep and that he would have a great day tomorrow. Amen." (I prayed this very quickly...as it was 9:45 at night)

After I said Amen...Ezra chimed in very quickly. 'Dad, that was an empty prayer.'

Hmmm.

How was I going to respond? I sat their quietly thinking for a minute or so.

Dad: 'Ezra, why do you think that my prayer was an empty prayer?'

Ezra: 'Well, you just said it so quickly that it didn't seem like you meant it. It sounded empty, all you really wanted was for it to be over with.'

Dad: "Ezra, thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You are right, that was empty, let's really pray and talk with God."

Ezra: 'Sounds good Dad'

Prayer to follow...or something close to it.

'Father, forgive me for empty, lifeless, routine, just doing it because I should type of prayer. Thank you for your Spirit working through Ezra in my life tonight. Thank you for allowing him to articulate in a sentence what I can so often be guilty of. Forgive me for not believing, not approaching you with thankfulness, with great expectation, with a wonder and awe of how great You are and how Gracious and Good you have been and continue to be in giving us Jesus, forgiveness of my sin and new life in Him. Empower us to live each of our days for your glory and your praise.'

Ezra's prayer: "Lord, help us be more like Stephen who lived for you and told others about you." (We had been talking about Stephen in Acts 7 at dinner and how he was filled with the Holy Spirit &  martyred (killed) because of his great love for Jesus.

Cool to see how the Lord answered that prayer (being like Stephen who was filled with the Holy Spirit) before Ezra even prayed it...as seen in his convicting words to his daddy.

Lessons from 5 minutes of putting my son to bed.

-God works in & through 5 year old children to teach their daddies things they should be teaching their son.

- I am thankful that God allowed Ezra to articulate truth so well. I pray that this gift will continue to be fanned into flame in His life for God's glory.

- Don't EVER be guilty of empty prayer

- My children are watching and listening. Am I discipling them in 'empty prayers' or in pouring out my heart and soul to God?