why pray?

Here is an outline of today's message...

1. Purpose of Prayer

a. Prayer nourishes the life of God in us
b. Prayer reveals God

2. Cost of Prayer

a. Prayer costs us nothing
b. Prayer cost God His Son

3. Result of Prayer

a. Prayer changes our attitude
b. Prayer changes our perspective

4. Enemies of Prayer

a. External Enemy - Satan
b. Internal Enemy - Self

Remember the little girl praying the "A...B...C..." prayer... God can make sense out of our prayers.

And don't ever forget:

God ALWAYS answers Prayers!

clay in the Potter's hand

"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:6)

Because God is our Master Craftsman, and we the clay, we can be certain of two things:

One, God has specific PURPOSE for us - each one of us; and
Two, our value and worth comes from the Maker, not from ourselves.

There were (in Jeremiah's days) seven steps for a lump of clay to be made into a pottery.

In the CHOOSING process, a common clay is picked out from the ground. In and of itself, it is not useful for anything. Much work is needed.

In the CLEANING process, all impurities and foreign materials are removed, as well as air pockets that form in the clay by kneading it.

In the TEMPERING Process, water and other tempering agents are added to make the clay pliable for molding.

In the MOLDING Process, the clay is shaped into a pottery by working inside and out.

In the DRYING process, the clay pottery is laid to dry in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place.

In the DECORATIVE process, the dried pottery is painted and glazed.

In the BAKING process, the pottery is placed into a kiln that is heated to at least 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 to 3 days.

God chooses us, not because we are so much better than others, but because He has plans for us; then he cleans us of all impurities and all things that get in the way of becoming what we need to be; afterwards, He adds grace upon grace, along with talents and ability to serve, but it is also in this process we are made pliable; then we are molded, not from outside in, but inside out - we don't change and become "good enough" for God to use us, but He works in us first; then despite all our great visions and dreams of serving God in specific ministry, He "leaves" us in a dark, dry, isolated place to "dry" us, preparing us for the final steps.

When God "paints" us, the color is not usually what we think should be, just as the paint color on the dried pottery will come out very different once it's been in the fire for a couple of days. We are often shortsighted and limited in our understanding to know why God chose these specific means to "color" our lives, but He knows what we will become.

And finally, He puts us in the blazing furnace, and ultimately, we come forth with amazing transformation in appearance and usefulness.

A lump of clay in the hand of the Potter can change into something beautiful and useful.

--from Nakwon EM Sunday Service April 22

interview with God

Watch & listen to this "Interview with God"...

Hope you'll be blessed!

There are more here. Scroll down to the list and click on the red or green highlighted titles you'd like to see. They are all very good.

friends of greater love

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:13-15

Remember David & Jonathan.

Remember Ahab & Jehoshaphat.

Two groups of two men who had two very different notion of frienship.

What is a true friend?

Do you have a friend who challenges you to strive to know God better? Someone who encourages you to keep going, and not give up? Someone who loves you enough to tell you even things you may not want to hear if only to help you turn your eyes back to God?

Do you have a friend who will understand you and accept you no matter what? Someone you never need fear being judged or misjudged?

Even if you do not have a friend like that right now, you can certainly have one in Jesus.

You will never find a friend like Jesus who knows your very heart and yet promises to never leave or forsake you.

...who knows every fault, weakness and shortcomings, and still calls YOU friend.

Take time this week to send your Project Jonathan partner a card or an e-card just to show appreciation and encouragement. Share a verse or a Q.T. that blessed you with your partner.

--from Nakwon EM Sunday Message April 15

resurrection

The year 1899 marked the deaths of two well know men - Dwight L. Moody, the acclaimed evangelist, and Robert Ingersoll, the famous lawyer, orator and political leader.

The two men had many similarities. Both were raised in Christian homes. Both were skilled orators. Both traveled extensively and were widely respected. Both drew immense crowds when they spoke and attracted loyal followings. But there was one striking different between them - their view of God.

Ingersoll was an agnostic and a follower of naturalism; he had no belief in the eternal, but stressed the importance of living only in the here and now. Ingersoll made light of the Bible, stating that "free thought will give us truth." To him the Bible was "a fable, obscenity, a humbug, a sham and a lie." He was a bold spokesman against the Christian faith. He claimed that a Christian "creed [was] the ignorant past bullying the enlightened present."

Ingersoll's contemporary, Dwight L. Moody, had different convictions. He dedicated his life to presenting a resurrected King to a dying people. He embraced the Bible as the hope for humanity and the cross as the turning point of history. He left behind a legacy of written and spoken words, institutions of education, churches, and changed lives.

Two men. Both powerful speakers and influential leaders. One rejected God; the other embraced Him. The impact of their decisions is seen most clearly in the way they died. Read how one biographer parallels the two deaths:

Ingersoll died suddenly. The news of his death stunned his family. His body was kept at home for several days because his wife was reluctant to part with it. It was eventually removed for the sake of the family's health.

Ingersoll's remains were cremated, and the public response to his passing was altogether dismal. For a man who put all his hopes in this world, death was tragic and came with the consolation of hope...

Moody's legacy was different. On December 22, 1899, Moody awoke to his last winter dawn. having grown increasingly weak during the night, he began to speak in slow measured words. "earth recedes, heaven opens before me!" Son Will, who was nearby, hurried across the room to his father's side.

"Father, you are dreaming," he said.

"No. This is no dream, Will," Moody said. "It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. God is calling me, and I must go. Don't call me back."

At this point, the family gathered around, and moments later, the great evangelist died. It was his coronation day - a day he had looked forward to for many years. He was with his Lord.

The funeral service of Dwight L. Moody reflected that same confidence. There was no despair. Loved ones gathered to sing praise to God at a triumphant home-going service. Many remembered the words the evangelist had spoken earlier that year in New York City: "Someday you will read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment, I shall be more alive that I am now... I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1855. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit shall live forever."

(excerpted from Max Lucado's The Applause of Heaven)

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)

--from Nakwon EM Easter Sunday Service at 10:00AM