Posts by Dorci

Sunday Praise and a Prayer for Pastors Everywhere

Posted on by Dorci

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and righteous name. You are the First and the Last, the I AM, the Creator of everything and everyone. 

Father, we want to thank you today, on this Pastor Appreciation Day, for every pastor who has answered your call on their lives to serve you and your people. 

Thank you for giving them the strength and courage they need to do all they do every week, and every day. Thank you for leading them, for giving them your wisdom, for holding up their arms when they’re exhausted from the constant call they face in this high-profile calling, along with all they do for their wives and families. 

We pray you would continue to renew their hearts for service, that they would not grow weary, but would continue to serve you in your strength. We pray you would fill them with wisdom to meet the challenges they face, to keep loving the people you’ve given them, and to keep serving you with a pure and sincere heart. 

Father we pray for pastors’ wives as well. We know they work hard to support their husbands, to sacrifice time with them, and to serve their families.

Lord, we pray for continued strength and wisdom for them, too. 

Lord, may they all know how very much they are loved and appreciated by those of us they serve, and of course by you. 

We pray they know their service is not in vain. That they would know you are using them in mighty ways even though they might not always see it. And help them remember they are laying up the most precious treasures in heaven. 

Please protect them from the enemy, fortify them, and fill them with your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Thankful Thursday – Good Medicine

Posted on by Dorci

 

“A merry heart does good like a medicine…”  
Proverbs 17:22

Today, and every day, but especially in the middle of this mess, I’m so thankful God’s given us a sense of humor to lighten our hearts, change our countenance, bring us together, and remind us there is still joy. 

What God revealed to Solomon when he wrote the proverb, modern medical science now understands. 

Laughter causes us to take in more oxygen, stimulates our organs, improves the function of blood vessels, and increases the endorphins released by our brain. It stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles. 

It can help fight stress, relieve tension and pain, and lift depression. 

And yeah, it can burn calories. It might not be a lot, but I’ll take it. 

 

Thankful Thursday – Mercy

Posted on by Dorci

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
 1 Chronicles 16:34

There is so much going on in the world right now that our minds can get pulled into a million different pits, so I thought it was important to start Thankful Thursday again.

I don’t have to tell you how despairing and overwhelming the state of this world is in right now. 

But God’s mercy endures, now and forever, and when we remember that, and give Him thanks, we will have hope. 

The words of David recorded in 1 Chronicles were part of a psalm spoken when the ark of the covenant was returned after battle to its rightful place in the tabernacle. God’s glory had been restored among His people.  

Today we’re facing another kind of spiritual battle, and the enemy is doing all he can to hijack the glory of God from this world. 

But God’s glory now lives inside His people. We are His tabernacle. 

And we know that “All the promises of God in {Christ} are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”  2 Corinthians 1:20

In Him we have His immeasurable love and grace and mercy and forgiveness. 

In Him we know He will lead us, give us wisdom, and provide for us. 

In Him we know our eternity is with Him. 

This life is short, and one day, when this battle is over, all wickedness will disappear, and His glory will reign forever more, where we will live in eternal peace and safety and love. 

So, wherever your thoughts have roamed to today, let’s focus them back on our merciful Heavenly Father, who already has the victory (and so do we!), and give Him thanks.  

What are you thankful for today?

 

I Would Rather

Posted on by Dorci

The Saturday Song – God’s Not Dead

Posted on by Dorci

It’s revival day! 

Today’s the day Franklin Graham is leading Prayer March 2020 in Washington D.C. for the healing of our nation, and the day Pastor and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn is leading his event, The Return, also seeking God’s forgiveness, repentance, revival, and healing of our nation. 

Heavenly Father, we come to you in humility and total dependence on You, praying that in Your mercy You would pour out the power of Your Holy Spirit throughout our country to soften hearts and open eyes to the truth of the destruction of sin, and the truth of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that paid for our sins, that many will turn to You with repentant hearts and that there will be a great awakening and revival of our nation in the name of Jesus Christ.  We pray you would send your warrior angels to bind the hand of the enemy from stopping or disrupting any of the prayer events going on today. We look to You, LORD, for help and hope and renewal. In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen. 

This is the song the Lord put on my heart to share today.

 

 

God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion)
Newsboys

Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To seek a revolution somehow

Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To bring a revolution somehow
Now I’m lost in Your freedom
In this world I’ll overcome

My God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion

Roaring, He’s roaring, He’s roaring like a lion

Let hope arise and make the darkness hide
My faith is dead I need resurrection somehow
Now I’m lost in Your freedom
In this world I’ll overcome

My God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion

Roaring, He’s roaring, He’s roaring like a lion
He’s roaring, He’s roaring

Let heaven roar and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival
Let heaven roar and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival
Let heaven roar (Let heaven roar) and fire fall
Come shake the ground
With the sound of revival

He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside
Roaring like a lion

He’s roaring, He’s roaring, He’s roaring like a lion
He’s roaring, He’s roaring, He’s roaring like a lion (Roaring like a lion)

 

 

 

Further Update for The Return

Posted on by Dorci

Hello Friends. I wanted to share with you the link to the updated schedule for the event The Return, as the times have changed just a bit since I last posted. 

The main event is this Saturday, September 26, but there will also be an event this Friday afternoon/evening, and a time of worship Saturday afternoon/evening, depending on your time zone.

You can watch it live from the website. Please remember all times listed are for Eastern Standard time, so please adjust accordingly. 

What is The Return?  Pastor Jonathan Cahn explains it like this:

“A movement, an appointed time, and a specific day set apart for one purpose – the return to God, that there be a coming before His presence in humility, in sincerity in prayer and repentance, that there be intercession for America, for each other, and for oneself, for God’s mercy, for salvation, for healing, for revival, for restoration, and for the fulfillment of God’s purposes for America and all who dwell within it.”

Along with Jonathan Cahn, there are many speakers and prayers scheduled, and I expect this to be a powerful time of repentance, of awakening and returning to the Lord.  

Heavenly Father, you are the Righteous and Holy One. We are in desperate need of your grace and mercy and forgiveness through your Son’s sacrifice on the cross.  We pray you would anoint these speakers and prayers, that your Holy Spirit would fill them to speak your will, that you would draw countless people to watch this event, to hear of your love and offer of forgiveness, and that you would bring a powerful revival within each of us, and throughout our country and our world. In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen. 

The Saturday Song – Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)

Posted on by Dorci

Happy Saturday, friends. You know, for the most part I feel called to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ, but every once in a while the Lord will put me in the path of an unbeliever, and that’s where I want to be today. 

In the path of those who have no idea what this Jesus thing is all about, and the path of those who once thought they knew, but they’ve been away for a hundred million different reasons. 

I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that God loves you more than you can ever know. Yes, He does. You might not feel it right now, but sometimes feelings lie. 

You might have been hurt and blame God. I understand.

You might have done something terrible and don’t think He could ever forgive you. I understand. 

You might be afraid to trust Him again. I understand. 

I’ve been there, done all that, bought the t-shirt and worn it until I didn’t think I could wear it anymore.

But the power of the blood of His Son paid for all of it. 

And thirty years down the road I also understand that if you let Him, God will heal your heart; that He not only can forgive you, He is waiting to forgive you; and that no matter what the future holds, He will be right beside you, hurting with you when you hurt, but through it He will give you His peace and strength to forgive, to heal, to grow in grace and love, into very the image of His own beautiful Son. 

And just like the story Jesus told the people who had gathered around him: “while {the prodigal son} was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him,” (Luke 15:20) so the Heavenly Father waits for you to take but a step toward Him, asking for forgiveness, and He will run to you with such compassion and all the love you ever wanted, throw His arms around you, and welcome you home. 

Today’s song is dedicated to you.

Father, let the chains fall…

 

 

Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)
David Crowder

Lift your head weary sinner, the river’s just ahead
Down the path of forgiveness, salvation’s waiting there
You built a mighty fortress 10,000 burdens high
Love is here to lift you up, here to lift you high
 
If you’re lost and wandering
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory open wide
 
All who’ve strayed and walked away, unspeakable things you’ve done
Fix your eyes on the mountain, let the past be dead and gone
Come all saints and sinners, you can’t outrun God
Whatever you’ve done can’t overcome the power of the blood
 
If you’re lost and wandering
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory open wide
 
If you’re lost and wrecked again
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory be open wide
 
Let the chains fall…
Let the chains chains chains chains chains chains…
 
If you’re lost and wandering
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory open wide
 
If you’re lost and wrecked again
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory be open wide
Let the gates of glory be open wide
Let the gates of glory be open wide

 

The Saturday Song – I Will Rise

Posted on by Dorci


“There’s a peace I’ve come to know”

“Jesus has overcome”

“There’s a day that’s drawing near”

“And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees

        And rise

             I will rise…”

 

 

Where Was God?

Posted on by Dorci

That’s the question on a lot of minds on a day like today.

And I understand that question. There are many events in my own life I’ve wondered where God was.

It was a day none of us will forget for so many reasons. The day quickly became dark and tragic, but there were also more acts of heroism that day, of light in the darkness, than we will ever fully know.

Like 24-year-old Welles Crowther who called his mother from the South Tower to let her know he was okay, and then began to lead others to safety, carrying an injured woman on his back down 15 floors and then returning to help more.

And Rick Rescorla who, as a head of security in the South Tower, ignored orders to keep employees at their desks, saving 2700 people.  

And Army Specialist Beau Doboszenski who was working as a tour guide on the other side of the Pentagon. Upon hearing the chaos, he ran to the crash site and spent the next several hours helping co-workers and running into the flames to help bring people out.

These acts of heroism are amazing enough, but looking at their backstories, we can see just a little bit of the hand of God orchestrating the saving of so many lives.

Like the fact that Welles Crowther had been a volunteer firefighter in his teens and was well prepared to confidently lead. Even the fact that somehow that day he had been wearing a red bandana that was able to keep him from breathing in too much smoke as he saved at least 12 people.  His body was found in a stairwell headed back up with the jaws of life.

And like the fact that Rick Rescorla had served in Vietnam, with distinction, and had the wisdom to lead his people to safety. And for years he had the forethought to have the employees practice fire drills. Because of that, more than 2700 people made it down the tower to safety in 16 minutes. Rick Rescorla’s body was never found.

And like the fact that Beau Doboszenski was a former firefighter and a trained EMT.

Too many lives were lost that day. The enemy of all that is good and right and holy was there to cause death and destruction and what he’d love to leave in his evil wake is a doubt and mistrust that God was there or that He even exists.

But God is the one who prepared people years in advance with special training and placed them where they needed to be when they needed to be there.

God is the Giver of strength, courage, wisdom, and perseverance.

God is the one who instills in people His love, the greater love that lays down his life for others.

We’ll never fully understand the whys this side of heaven, about that fateful day, or about tragic days in our own personal lives.

But God knows.

Years later we can catch a small glimpse into the behind-the-scenes stories of that day, shining a light on some of the good, among countless other similar sacrificial stories that took place among the evil and about how God was there in their midst. 

God sees the full picture. And we can trust He was there that day giving strength to heroes just as He’s with us every day, including our worst days, filling us with His strength, courage, and hope.

And someday maybe God will show us all the behind-the-scenes stories of those awful days in our own lives and how He was right there with us in the midst of it all. 

 

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12b


Heavenly Father, thank you for never leaving us or forsaking us. Thank you for preparing a home for us and giving us the hope of being with you someday, when you will have struck down evil for the last time, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.  Thank you for the incredible bravery of so many men and women on that day, for giving what we know was even beyond their own strength . We pray for those who lost loved ones that day. We ask that you would be especially near to them today, and that you would comfort them with your peace that passes all understanding. We know that you will prevail, that you’ve already conquered evil at the cross, and we pray for many more souls to come to know Christ as their own Lord and Savior, even today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Be Wise Stewards

Posted on by Dorci

Dear Heavenly Father, we love you and praise you. We are so blessed to call you our Father, and to know that we can put every ounce of faith in you and you alone. You are our Provider, our Redeemer, our Hope and our Comfort.

Father, you are our Rock. Whenever everything else around is shaky, we stand upon you, the immovable, unshakeable, unchangeable Rock. 

Help us remember to be wise stewards of the grace and time you’ve given us, putting into practice the words of Christ, building upon the foundation you’ve laid through Him so we can remain steadfast in our faith no matter what comes. 

May we continually stand upon the Rock of our salvation, shining a light of hope and encouragement for believers and unbelievers alike, that through it all you will be glorified. 

Thank you, precious Lord. In Jesus’ holy and worthy name we pray, amen.