Saturday Song – In Jesus’ Name (and a little something extra)

Good morning (or afternoon or evening!), everyone. I wanted to share a couple of things with you today.  

First, I came across a message this morning I wanted to share with you light of yesterday’s blog. It was written in 1980 by a man in Rwanda who was killed for not renouncing his faith in Christ. After his death, this statement was found posted on the wall in his room. He had written it the night before. 

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

We are the Fellowship of the Son!

And second, because of my fellowship with a beautiful sister in the Lord at church last Sunday, she reminded me of this song that so encouraged me, and I thought was also appropriate to share with you today. 

This life is hard, and sometimes it’s even harder for us who are trying to walk the walk of faith because that makes us a target of the enemy, like the man in Rwanda. I know there’s pain, I know there’s suffering, believe me, I know. But I also know there’s healing in Christ. He wants to heal your heart and mind. It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but if you’ll begin, in faith, offering Him the pieces of your heart, He’ll begin putting them back together. If you’re hurting today, I pray for your healing, in Jesus’ Name. If you would like specific prayer, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

For Him,
Dorci


In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible)

by Katy Nichole

I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name ’cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name, in Jesus’ name
 
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He’s the God of possible
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
In Jesus’ name
 
Come believe it
Come receive it
Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Come believe it
Come receive it
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances will change
I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough
Would happen today

I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
I pray for revival
For restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come alive in Jesus name
In Jesus’ name

The Fellowship of the Son

Many Christians think of fellowship with other believers as just getting together on Sunday morning, maybe mid-week, maybe at a Bible study, and hanging out. I’ve heard so many say they don’t need the church.  They don’t need to be with other Christians. They can hear a teaching online, they can worship God by themselves. They can do their Christian faith alone.

My guess is a lot of those people have been hurt by others in the church, and I understand that hurt, but I also know God desires to heal our hearts and bring us back into fellowship, a deep, meaningful spiritual fellowship, something that is far greater than simply getting together. 

“God is faithful, and by Him you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9

The word for fellowship here is koinōnia – partnership, participation, communion. 

At the moment of salvation, we’re called into partnership with Jesus Christ, to commune with Him, to participate with Him in our own spiritual growth, as co-laborers of His work here, and as co-heirs of our eternal inheritance.

This same word, koinōnia, is used to describe the early church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

Because we’re called into a partnership with Christ, and we are filled with His Holy Spirit, we are called into a partnership, a fellowship, with one another. 

You might have heard of another fellowship, one solely built around a ring. Its purpose wasn’t just to socialize (although they did do that), but to fulfill a singular vision, a mission. This fellowship of nine banded together to see that a ring and its evil power was destroyed, saving their world.

Each member had a different position with its own responsibility, its own strengths, none less important than another. They worked together as one, realizing that no one member can fight the evil power alone. 

Like that fellowship, God’s given us different gifts to use and we need each one.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

We’ve been called to come together as one body, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to use our God-given gifts “for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ (each other), until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…”  (Eph. 4:12-13a)  

We are each members of a fellowship, not to destroy something, but to lift up and glorify the Holy and Righteous One as we journey through this life, maturing in Christ, doing the good works God prepared for us to do, leading others away from the enemy and pointing them to Christ and to salvation, and battling side by side in spiritual warfare through prayer, until the day God destroys the evil one. 

The Bible says the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, and a lion loves nothing more than to get his prey alone. 

The enemy of Christ can and will attack us with lies, discouragements, temptations, misdirection, anything to try to separate a believer from the truth, and that is so much easier to do when a person is not surrounded by the fellowship, the partnership, the ministry of other believers.

“…you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

This is who we are.  Christ is the cornerstone and each of us is added as a brick to be built together as the living temple of God.

This is our fellowship with one another, the Fellowship of the Son. 

***

Heavenly Father, thank you for this amazing and blessed calling to partner with Jesus. I pray for not only a clear vision of your will for us corporately and individually, but a passion to carry it out. Help us know the gifts you’ve given us and to partner with Jesus in using them according to your will to serve you and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  For those who are without a church right now, I pray you would lead them to a Spirit-filled group of believers where they can minister and be ministered to. And for those who have been hurt, I pray you would give them the ability to forgive for the healing of their hearts. Give us the will, the strength, and the courage to not allow the enemy to keep us from our calling, our purpose, but to fulfill it for your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 National Day of Prayer

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, 
so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted 
and now being built up in Him
and established in your faith, just as you were instructed,
and overflowing with gratitude.”
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB


Thursday, May 5 is this year’s National Day of Prayer, and boy do we need it. The date has come in the middle of this nation’s war, quite literally, between life and death. 

The theme given for this year is ‘Exalt the Lord, who has established us,’ which is based on Colossians 2:6-7. 

The Hebrew word for exalt, when exalting the LORD, means “to be high actively, to rise or raise, to lift up. 

In our dictionary exalt means to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality, to elevate. 

To praise. 

It is to see God and acknowledge Him for who He is: the Righteous One who judges all and through Christ shows mercy. To humble ourselves before Him, elevating Him in our hearts, minds and souls, praising Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords, seeking Him to do His will on earth as it is in heaven, to do in His strength what we can never do alone. 

Let’s lift our voices together, coming to the throne room of God to praise Him and to seek His mercy. 

Heavenly Father, the Holy and Exalted One, the One worthy to be praised and glorified forever and ever, our Creator, our Giver of Life, and Redeemer, we lift you up as our Lord and King. 

We humbly come before you on behalf of this nation that has been ravaged by the evil one and has turned away from you and your truth and believed lies. 

Father, we ask for the merciful pouring out of your Holy Spirit to give people eyes to see and ears to hear the truth, to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the one who bore all our sins on the cross that we might be forgiven of all our sins and have life with you now and forever. 

We pray you would pull the spiritually lost and blinded back from the brink of hell. 

Father, we pray, though, that those who have yet to know you, who are believing and proclaiming and fighting for lies, would see your love in us.

Help us remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12)

Though we are angry at the sin because it destroys the sinner, may we be your lights, shining your love and grace and mercy to all those whose hearts will receive you. 

May you grant repentance, LORD, and freedom for the captives. 

We are humbled and blessed beyond comprehension that you know us, and have opened our eyes and hearts to know you. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in the pages of your Word. May our love for you and our faith in you grow more passionate every day.  We pray in the precious name of Yeshuah Hamashiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who was, Who is, and is to come. Amen.

 

Walking Through Holy Week – 5

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. 

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ 

An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Luke 22:39, 41-43

Walking Through Holy Week – 4

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
John 17:20-24

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Keep Running

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and precious name. We glorify and magnify the name of Yeshua HaMashiach – Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One. 

Father, many of us are weary of running the race. We’re bogged down with our own personal sorrows and sufferings, health issues, difficult relationships, just trying to make ends meet, and when we add to that all that’s going on around the world, we are at a loss. We are overwhelmed and sometimes we just want to give up.

Lord, forgive us of our sins, and overwhelm us with the power of your Holy Spirit to keep running. Fill us again with the passionate love and fervor of faith we had at the beginning.

Remind us continually to keep our eyes fixed on you and not on those around us who would discourage us and keep us from wholeheartedly following you, living as your light in the world, using the spiritual gifts you’ve given us, and fulfilling the calling you have on our lives. 

We know you’re with us every step of the way. 

We pray in the precious name of Jesus and because of His blood spilled for the forgiveness of our sins, amen. 

 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer for My Thoughts

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise your holy Name. You are my Rock and my place of refuge and strength. 

Father, in this time when so much is going on in the world and in my own life, and the enemy tries to use it all to take my attention away from you and fill my heart with fear, I ask you to help me to take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ, to fix my mind on Him, His love for me, and His power over the enemy. Throughout this week, empower me with your Holy Spirit to think on those things that will bring me hope and peace. Remind me of all your blessings and the way you constantly care for me. 

I pray my thoughts, my words, my actions, my life bring you glory. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen. 

***

If you have any prayer requests, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or email me.  We’re in this together. 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Be Ready

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!'”

Heavenly Father, we praise you for all you are and all you do. We ask for forgiveness of our sins and a renewal of our spirit. 

Lord, even though this scripture is an account of words spoken between you and Isaiah, may they be our attitude and words to you, too. Our lives are yours.  Make us useful in your hands and ready, and when you desire us to go, to do, to speak, whether it’s to a family member, a neighbor, a stranger, or a crowd, we pray you would strengthen us as we take that step of faith with humble hearts, boldness, fearlessness (or at least obedience in the fear!), and do it all in your love that we would be proper witnesses of your holy, gentle, and gracious character. 

We submit ourselves to you, Lord. We are your servants. 

In the holy and precious name of Yeshua we pray, amen. 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer For Continued Joy

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day
in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.'” 
Luke 2:10-11

 

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and precious name. You are glorified in the birth of your Son, and though the world’s celebration ends, may our celebration of the birth of our Savior continue every day of the year.

Lord, only you know what the coming year will bring. No matter what we go through, the good times and the painful ones, may we glorify you by walking in the joy our salvation brings.

In the good times, may we remember to thank you and give you all the glory. And when we face difficult days, we pray your Holy Spirit will sustain us with your peace that passes all understanding and remind us of your loving care to the brokenhearted.  

No matter what, may people see you in us and know our celebration of Christ’s birth never ends. We pray it all in the mighty and victorious name of Yeshua HaMashiach, our Savior and Lord, amen.

***

Please remember, if you have any prayer requests you are more than welcome to leave a comment or email me your request and I will be honored to stand with you in prayer.  The Lord bless you and keep you!

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Live Unafraid

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your most holy name. We praise you for your faithfulness and goodness. We praise you for your love and for the plans you have that are so great, so glorious, so miraculous, that we cannot even begin to conceive of them. 

Father, when your servants, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful to you and trusted you even in the furnace, you protected them, and because they chose to live unafraid, even King Nebuchadnezzar praised your name.  

Lord, we ask that you would give all of us who believe in Christ the kind of courage and strength and conviction to live unafraid and that the world will see your faithfulness in and through us and have no choice but to praise your name. 

No matter what we’re going through, whether it’s physical, emotional, financial, or even persecution for our faith in you, may we live unafraid, filled with the sure hope we have because of what Christ did for us on the cross and because the Holy Spirit indwells us, knowing that you are an ever-present help in time of need and that you promise to be with us and love us to the end.  

Thank you for giving us all we need to walk victoriously. May we daily avail ourselves of all the riches of your glory in Christ Jesus. It’s in His blessed name we pray, amen.