I remember when the Deacons used to lead the morning worship at Burnside Community Baptist Church each Sunday, and they sang one song without fail every week.
The chorus said: "Jesus is on the mainline, tell Him what you want. You just call Him up and tell Him what you want."
Some verses said, "the line is never busy", or "if you want your burdens carried." But the course always repeated "you just call Him up and tell Him what you want."
Now, of course we know that it's not that simple. Jesus is not just some clerk at a warehouse waiting to fill fill our orders whenever we think we want something. There are issues of our heart that must align with the will of God, to include repenting and turning away from our sins. But the song does remind us what the Bible instructs us to do, and that is:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." [Philippians 4:6]
Our commitment is to take everything to the Lord in prayer. Perhaps you'd like to experience what the Deacons sang about and pick up the telephone to call on the Lord. No Problem!
We have established a conference call account so that we can do just that...pick up the phone and pray.
The number to call is (610) 214-0200 and the access code is 582833#. Just dial the number and wait for the instruction to enter the code.
To begin we have established two (2) prayer hours when we can meet and pray together by phone each day. The first is from 6:00 - 7:00 a.m. central time, and the second is from 9:00-10:00 p.m. central time.
Here's how you can participate in the prayer conference calls.
There will be a coordinator assigned to each designated hour to direct the flow of prayer. Whenever you arrive on the line other callers will hear a tone letting them know that someone else has arrived. When you come on you may hear someone praying. Simply pray along with them until they have finished. We are asking everyone to keep their prayers short and focused so that we will be able to accommodate others and receive prayer request.
There is no requirement to pray out loud, but you are free to do so. Perhaps you would feel led to pray for a specific request, or bring a request to the line. It's completely up to you.
The coordinators will have certain prayer items we want to keep before the Lord as we seek revival and spiritual awakening for Dolton; but there will always be time to pray for specific issues concerning you.
Our website (www.belovednow.org) will have a page specifically dedicated to The Beloved Prayer Community, and for receiving prayer request.
The purpose of this line is to give us additional opportunities to bombard Heaven together in prayer as we seek to break through the spiritual wickedness of our land and see transformation come to Dolton. Let's give Heaven a call...together.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Heart Big Enough for Two
Today I (Pastor Ceasar) received a call from a friend in Washington D.C who informed me of a serious situation here that demanded the immediate attention of the Prayer Community. It was a call to prayer for a young mother in Riverdale, IL who is experiencing a challenge of faith few of us could even imagine.
On March 31, 2010, Brianna Manns gave birth to twin boys. Unfortunately, the twins are conjoined in a way such that they cannot be separated. They share one malformed heart but are not candidates for a heart transplant because of their complicated anatomy. During her pregnancy Brianna was told that she should have an abortion, but she refused because she "wanted her children to have a chance to live".
After they were born the doctors didn't give much hope for the children to survive. They required a ventilator and would often go into distress that required doctors to work feverishly to resuscitate them. Brianna was asked to sign a "Do Not Resuscitate" order by the doctors, but she refused because "she trusted God that they would live".
On March 31, 2011 Kaydon & Kameron experienced something the doctors never expected they would. They celebrated their first birthday. Today they are off the ventilator and are doing quite well. But once again the doctor's prognosis is not a favorable one. They say the children will eventually grow to large for the one heart to support them. Brianna chooses to believe differently.
I spoke to Brianna today and she is requesting prayer for a few specific things. She wants to bring Kaydon and Kameron home, but the doctors are not cooperating. Please pray for wisdom for both Brianna and the doctors as this is being considered. She also wants God to continue to do the miraculous for her boys, believing that they will not only survive, but that they will live full lives. Let us pray and believe with her...knowing that nothing is too hard for God.
We will be meeting with the family on May 17th to discover how the Beloved Community will support her throughout this process. Until then, please pray for this 22 year old mother who chooses to place her trust in the Lord for the lives of her children.
On March 31, 2010, Brianna Manns gave birth to twin boys. Unfortunately, the twins are conjoined in a way such that they cannot be separated. They share one malformed heart but are not candidates for a heart transplant because of their complicated anatomy. During her pregnancy Brianna was told that she should have an abortion, but she refused because she "wanted her children to have a chance to live".
After they were born the doctors didn't give much hope for the children to survive. They required a ventilator and would often go into distress that required doctors to work feverishly to resuscitate them. Brianna was asked to sign a "Do Not Resuscitate" order by the doctors, but she refused because "she trusted God that they would live".
On March 31, 2011 Kaydon & Kameron experienced something the doctors never expected they would. They celebrated their first birthday. Today they are off the ventilator and are doing quite well. But once again the doctor's prognosis is not a favorable one. They say the children will eventually grow to large for the one heart to support them. Brianna chooses to believe differently.
I spoke to Brianna today and she is requesting prayer for a few specific things. She wants to bring Kaydon and Kameron home, but the doctors are not cooperating. Please pray for wisdom for both Brianna and the doctors as this is being considered. She also wants God to continue to do the miraculous for her boys, believing that they will not only survive, but that they will live full lives. Let us pray and believe with her...knowing that nothing is too hard for God.
We will be meeting with the family on May 17th to discover how the Beloved Community will support her throughout this process. Until then, please pray for this 22 year old mother who chooses to place her trust in the Lord for the lives of her children.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Dolton's Community Day of Prayer
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:13-14
Join the Beloved Prayer Community and the faith community of Dolton in a unified day of prayer, Thursday May 5, 2011. The theme is Dolton's Day of Transformation, as we are seeking a great move of God's Holy Spirit to revive and transform our town.
God said He would heal our land if we would seek His face and repent. Let's do that together on this national day of prayer. Events are as follows:
09:00 Morning Prayer Services at local churches.
New Community Church (formerly Lorimer) - 14801 Lincoln
Revival Center Church - 820 California
Prosperous Living Ministries - 14806 Chicago Road
12:00 Noon - Public Prayer at the Waterfall (across from Village Hall)
1:00 Prayer Walking The Community (routes provided at Waterfall)
7:00 PM Evening Prayer Service @ New Community Church (formerly Lorimer)
For more details please call (708) 856-9043 - (708) 849-1630 or email: cleflore@belovednow.org or thebcdc@gmail.com
Join the Beloved Prayer Community and the faith community of Dolton in a unified day of prayer, Thursday May 5, 2011. The theme is Dolton's Day of Transformation, as we are seeking a great move of God's Holy Spirit to revive and transform our town.
God said He would heal our land if we would seek His face and repent. Let's do that together on this national day of prayer. Events are as follows:
09:00 Morning Prayer Services at local churches.
New Community Church (formerly Lorimer) - 14801 Lincoln
Revival Center Church - 820 California
Prosperous Living Ministries - 14806 Chicago Road
12:00 Noon - Public Prayer at the Waterfall (across from Village Hall)
1:00 Prayer Walking The Community (routes provided at Waterfall)
7:00 PM Evening Prayer Service @ New Community Church (formerly Lorimer)
For more details please call (708) 856-9043 - (708) 849-1630 or email: cleflore@belovednow.org or thebcdc@gmail.com
Friday, March 4, 2011
Confession and Petition from The Valley of Vision
As we continue to pray and ask God for revival and spiritual awakening for Dolton, IL we are reminded by the Holy Spirit that certain conditions must be met in us before God will hear us and respond to our prayers. Our personal and collective sins must be addressed before God will move on our behalf.
When the children of Israel asked why God wasn't answering their prayers, the answer came, "Behold, the Lord's hand in not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have seperated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear". (Isaiah 59:1-2)
There is no sin too small to hinder prayer. As you pray for revival, remember that humility, confession, and repentance are pre-requisites for cleansing, forgiveness, and restoration of God's blessing.
The following prayer is from a collection of Puritan Prayers entitled The Valley of Vision.
Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life. My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them. Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.
I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with Thy patient work, answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.
No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction. Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee. Then I shall bless Thee, God of jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.
When the children of Israel asked why God wasn't answering their prayers, the answer came, "Behold, the Lord's hand in not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have seperated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear". (Isaiah 59:1-2)
There is no sin too small to hinder prayer. As you pray for revival, remember that humility, confession, and repentance are pre-requisites for cleansing, forgiveness, and restoration of God's blessing.
The following prayer is from a collection of Puritan Prayers entitled The Valley of Vision.
Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life. My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them. Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.
I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with Thy patient work, answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.
No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction. Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee. Then I shall bless Thee, God of jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?
This week, our meditation has been excerpted from the book entitled, Bound to Be Free compiled by Jan Pit. In the following short quotation from Ghassan Khalaf (amidst bombings and destruction when he faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith), Brother Khalaf gives us insight for reflection and perhaps application to our present situation of war for America's moral foundations.
"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
During wars, moral spiritual foundations are liable to be undermined and people tend to be permissive. They abandon God's laws and government laws. In Lebanon when militia-men dominated, the government was dissolved. A state of chaos and complete confusion emerged. The foundations were destroyed. In a situation like this, what can the righteous do?
Learning from our situation, the righteous can prove that He is the foundation when moral and spiritual foundations are destroyed. The Christian is the law in the absence of the law, and he is the conscience of the nation when morals deteriorate. The example of Christ is reflected in our lives in humanity's darkest hours. Christ is the light of the world, and we should let Him shine through us.
When foundations are destroyed, the righteous should not stand still. He must rebuild what is destroyed. Our call is not just to stand by and observe the destruction. Our call is to share in building up whatever is destroyed, especially in the moral and spiritual realm. What if what we have rebuilt is destroyed again? The righteous should be determined to build it again and again and again.
Will must be faithful to the task of rebuilding, even as Nehemiah was in the Old Testament? Will must find out through prayer and revelation from God what needs rebuilding and dedicate ourselves to the task?
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS ON THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE OUR NEWS LETTERS AND TRACK OUR PRAYER MOVEMENT SEEKING REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN DOLTON, IL.
"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
During wars, moral spiritual foundations are liable to be undermined and people tend to be permissive. They abandon God's laws and government laws. In Lebanon when militia-men dominated, the government was dissolved. A state of chaos and complete confusion emerged. The foundations were destroyed. In a situation like this, what can the righteous do?
Learning from our situation, the righteous can prove that He is the foundation when moral and spiritual foundations are destroyed. The Christian is the law in the absence of the law, and he is the conscience of the nation when morals deteriorate. The example of Christ is reflected in our lives in humanity's darkest hours. Christ is the light of the world, and we should let Him shine through us.
When foundations are destroyed, the righteous should not stand still. He must rebuild what is destroyed. Our call is not just to stand by and observe the destruction. Our call is to share in building up whatever is destroyed, especially in the moral and spiritual realm. What if what we have rebuilt is destroyed again? The righteous should be determined to build it again and again and again.
Will must be faithful to the task of rebuilding, even as Nehemiah was in the Old Testament? Will must find out through prayer and revelation from God what needs rebuilding and dedicate ourselves to the task?
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS ON THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE OUR NEWS LETTERS AND TRACK OUR PRAYER MOVEMENT SEEKING REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN DOLTON, IL.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Our Power is in Prayer
Defeat awaits a church that doesn't pray much, but success is sure to follow a church that prays all the time. The supernatural Power of God that is essential to the success of the church comes only through praying. As it has been often said: "Much prayer much power - little prayer little power - no prayer no power." In order for the body of Christ (the church) to be victorious it must commit itself to constant, faith believing prayer. It must become our top priority.
More time in this fast paced age must be given to prayer by a church called by God. More thought must be given to prayer throughout our day. More heart and soul must be invested in our corporate and individual praying if the church is to go forth in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ and perform the wonders that is ours in Him.
The Beloved Prayer Community is calling the Body of Christ together in prayer so that we can witness the Power of God in a great revival and spiritual awakening in Dolton, IL. The Holy Spirit has directed us to declare Thursday, May 5, 2011 as Dolton's Day of Transformation!
In prayer we are asking God to send His spirit to unify and empower his church, save souls by the hundreds, and to bring peace and prosperity to the city.
If you believe that God's Power in answer to our prayers is sufficient to transform our city, then we are asking you to join us as we consecrate ourselves in preparation for God's amazing things. "...consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5
Fast Each Tuesday (6,12,or 24 hours) - Start or join a weekly prayer cell (home or church - Join the Walking Prayer Patrols - Become a part of the 1,000 Intercessors for Dolton (sign up on this page).
JESUS IS LORD IN DOLTON
More time in this fast paced age must be given to prayer by a church called by God. More thought must be given to prayer throughout our day. More heart and soul must be invested in our corporate and individual praying if the church is to go forth in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ and perform the wonders that is ours in Him.
The Beloved Prayer Community is calling the Body of Christ together in prayer so that we can witness the Power of God in a great revival and spiritual awakening in Dolton, IL. The Holy Spirit has directed us to declare Thursday, May 5, 2011 as Dolton's Day of Transformation!
In prayer we are asking God to send His spirit to unify and empower his church, save souls by the hundreds, and to bring peace and prosperity to the city.
If you believe that God's Power in answer to our prayers is sufficient to transform our city, then we are asking you to join us as we consecrate ourselves in preparation for God's amazing things. "...consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5
Fast Each Tuesday (6,12,or 24 hours) - Start or join a weekly prayer cell (home or church - Join the Walking Prayer Patrols - Become a part of the 1,000 Intercessors for Dolton (sign up on this page).
JESUS IS LORD IN DOLTON
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Willing to Pay the Price for Revival and Spiritual Awakening
When the pastor and the church are to busy to pray, then we are most certainly busier than our Lord would have us to be. How misplaced our priorities must be if we cannot find time to spend with God due to our business of serving Him. Directing souls towards the Kingdom is the mission of the church. If we will give God time then He will give us timeless souls.
The great revival preacher Leonard Ravenhill has said, "The Church has advisers by the carload, but where are her agonizers? Churches, boasting an all time high in attendance, might have to admit an all time low in spiritual births." It is possible to increase our churches without increasing the kingdom. The enemy of multiplication is stagnation. "When believers lacking births become burdened, and when soul sterility sickens us, then we will pulsate with holy fear and pray with holy fervor, and produce with holy fertility. At God's counter there are no sale days, for the price of revival is always the same-- travailing in prayer!
There was a time in eternity past when Satan threw down the gauntlet to the Almighty challenging for supremacy. What a fool. The Savior picked it up and crushed him underfoot. We the church now reign with our Savior. Let us be diligent in advancing the victory. Dolton belongs to the Lord! Unite! in consistent, persistent travailing prayer as we await the Day of Transformation in Dolton.
On the National Day of Prayer, May 5th 2011, the churches of Dolton will come together in a united effort marching through the streets of Dolton praying and praising the Lord Jesus Christ!
Our Lord has given us this vision of prayer and unity. Let us begin now in fervent, consistent, individual and corporate prayer as we follow the Lord's leading in organizing for this day. Many have already voiced their interest in participating and their commitment to it. We will be meeting regularly at different churches throughout the community for prayer as we prepare for the day. We will keep you informed of the different church sites and times.
God Bless and continue to uphold this in prayer.
The great revival preacher Leonard Ravenhill has said, "The Church has advisers by the carload, but where are her agonizers? Churches, boasting an all time high in attendance, might have to admit an all time low in spiritual births." It is possible to increase our churches without increasing the kingdom. The enemy of multiplication is stagnation. "When believers lacking births become burdened, and when soul sterility sickens us, then we will pulsate with holy fear and pray with holy fervor, and produce with holy fertility. At God's counter there are no sale days, for the price of revival is always the same-- travailing in prayer!
There was a time in eternity past when Satan threw down the gauntlet to the Almighty challenging for supremacy. What a fool. The Savior picked it up and crushed him underfoot. We the church now reign with our Savior. Let us be diligent in advancing the victory. Dolton belongs to the Lord! Unite! in consistent, persistent travailing prayer as we await the Day of Transformation in Dolton.
On the National Day of Prayer, May 5th 2011, the churches of Dolton will come together in a united effort marching through the streets of Dolton praying and praising the Lord Jesus Christ!
Our Lord has given us this vision of prayer and unity. Let us begin now in fervent, consistent, individual and corporate prayer as we follow the Lord's leading in organizing for this day. Many have already voiced their interest in participating and their commitment to it. We will be meeting regularly at different churches throughout the community for prayer as we prepare for the day. We will keep you informed of the different church sites and times.
God Bless and continue to uphold this in prayer.
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