A Founded Renewal

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 27, 2012 in Ministry | 4 comments

I hit my knees in prayer asking the Lord to help. Carrie and I had been through our hardest year in ministry in the past 15 years. This was not a few months which seemed like a year, it was a physical year; 365 days. Together, our hearts were broken and our spirits were crushed. Together, we had been praying and asking for God to show us the path He wanted us to take.

Various doors had been opened and in the course of events, I tried to open a few myself. The frustrations of ministry were wearing me thin. The stage of burnout I felt at the beginning of the year was nothing compared to the one I was experiencing at the current moment. I had spoken to others regarding ministry burnout and I know the symptoms I was experiencing.

My prayer that day would be different than the rest. God and I had done a large amount of talking in the past, but not like that day. My discussions with God were always one sided; me griping, angry and frustrated and God listening.

I thought I knew where God wanted me. The door seemed wide open and becoming wider each week, yet I struggled.

That day I prayed with words hard to swallow and ones that were going to test my faith, "Lord, put me where you want me. open the door You want and shut the rest." Shut the rest – I said it. I asked God to open one and shut the rest. I knew my words would be hard to swallow, yet I put all trust and faith in Him.

With that simple prayer, the door I wanted to remain open shut with force. I never saw it immediately, but I began to see doors shutting in the coming days. The door God wanted to remain open, He kept open. In fact, the door opened wider. God never spoke to me, emailed me or called me…He acted. When He acted I felt like Gideon; I wanted a few more "signs" just to be sure. However, God had provided enough, I needed my mind to grab hold and trust.

In the light of the one door which remained open, I would have to make a tough decision. The decision before me was becoming easier every day. I knew in making the decision I would disappoint some and possibly lose some out of my life, but the door was open and it was time to step through it. Some decisions are for the long term and long term decisions may yield undesirable short term consequences. I have found when God opens the door, the short-term consequences are only speed bumps on a life in His light.

Is it time you find your renewal by asking God to open the door and close the rest? If so, be careful, He will act.

Just some thoughts,

My Prayer for the Saints

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 11, 2012 in Prayers | 0 comments

My prayer for the saints is a prayer to…

• …move you out of your pew and into the world.
• …make the saints uncomfortable in a comfortable world.
• …challenge your life by asking you to remove sin.
• …grow the kingdom by growing yourself.
• …give more financially by giving yourself.
• …be known as a child of God not a citizen of Earth.
• …share the message of Christ instead of sharing gossip.
• …encourage the saints daily, not just in troubling times.

Almighty Father,

Each day You give us is a blessed day to be alive; and to You, and You only, we give thanks. Allow us to live each day in service to You and Your Son Jesus. May our lives be enriched by appreciating each blessing which You have provided.

Change us today. Stop us from wrong and show us the door of escape. When we need broken, break us. As our lives become callused to sin, remind us the destructive nature of sin and hold us close.

Break our hearts when we see the lost. Remove the callus of everyday and replace it with thoughts of eternity. When we see spiritual suffering, may we weep. When we see spiritual rejoicing, may we rejoice.

Change us today and change us forever. Change us through Your Word. Give us the wisdom to allow Your Word into our lives and to grow each day.

In Your Son’s name,

Amen.

Just my thoughts,

Sunday’s Prayer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Jan 8, 2012 in Prayers | 0 comments

Almighty Father,

Today is the day You have made. There has never been one like it, nor will there ever be. You have seen fit to bless both, your children and those who are not your children, with the beauty of your creation today. May we all see You in every thing.

Lord, today I pray for this week. I am convinced You are working in this world and convinced You allowed us more time to fulfill the mission of sharing Your will. Allow us time to reach those who need reached. Allow us time to reach and strengthen those who are weak. Allow us time to reach those who have strayed.

I pray for your disciples. Encourage us each day by allowing us to see You. May we see You in the world. Let the sky speak of Your handiwork and the land proclaim the greatness of Your hands. May our eyes be opened to see You at work in our lives. May our hearts be as compassionate as the heart of Your Son Jesus.

Change Your children this week. Change us and allow our eyes, hearts and hands to be open to Your will. May the thoughts of this life be closed by the promise of Your enduring care.

Father, thank you for Your gift of Your Son and the forgiveness and cleansing found in His blood.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

A Sunday Prayer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Oct 16, 2011 in Prayers | 0 comments

“Father,

“Today, my Sunday will be different than previous days. I ask today that you bless my brothers and sisters at the Orange Grove Church of Christ in Gulfport, Mississippi.  As they bond together today, give them extra strength. This week has been hard on them, but they know You, and  You are their shelter and confidence. Be their Shield and Guide.

“I ask a special blessing on Les Ferguson and his family. Lord, they have been through a week no one even wants to imagine. As Karen and Cole are comforted in Your arms, allow Your arms to reach Les and his children. May Your arms shield and comfort them. As they worship today, may they see Your love.

“For the brothers and sisters around the world, may they look to You as the ultimate giver. You gave us heaven and earth, every blessing we have and most of all, Your One and only Son – Jesus. May our focus be on Him. May the blessing of Your Son be in the forefront of our minds and our lives.

“As we begin this week, guide us and correct us in Your love. Hold us fast in Your arms and allow us the opportunities to show the love You have provided us to those we meet each day.

“Father, I ask You to change us and make us whole; not whole in the world eyes, but whole in Your eyes. Allow our spiritual lives to reflect You each day!

“In the name of Your only Son,

“Amen.”

Just my prayer for today,

Sunday’s Prayer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Sep 25, 2011 in Prayers | 0 comments

Almighty Creator,

You gave us this day to open our hearts to Your will, Your love and Your Providence. Fill us with Your Spirit today. Clear our minds of the frailty of this world and transform us with Your word.

Allow Your words to penetrate our souls and change us into the followers you desire. Transform our desires of self to desires of service. Move us out of our pews and into the world. Let those of the world see our faith, not just in our words, but mainly in our works.

We know what we need to do, give us the Spirit to do it.

Amen.