Category Archives: Prayer

Movers and Shakers …

The term “movers and shakers” is usually used to describe people who have influence and impact in an area of culture. We often put business people, entertainers or sports figures in this group. This week I got a whole new perspective on the idea of “movers and shakers”.

Twice in this past week I was in the presence of a group of “movers and shakers”. They were not in the normal places you would imagine for people of influence. In both instances these people were in a church. They were not doing what our culture normally views as influential.
In both instances the groups, and they were not the same group but I was privileged to be present at both times.

The activity taking place was a prayer meeting. What? That’s correct, I was in the presence of some moving and shaking, some influencing of culture and it was in two different churches, with two different groups and both times the focus was prayer.

Both times there was a definite realization of something powerful taking place and there was some life change. I would call that moving and shaking and certainly influential.

One group was in my church as we 14 of us gathered to pray for revival and our upcoming Revival/Renewal services. The other group is some pastors from 5 different denominations who gather every other week to pray for each other and for revival in our community.

The power that was present in both places was palatable and the impact was noticeable on all who participated. I was humbled and moved during both times. Sadly it has been a while since I was present when this type of movement and influence took place.

We give too much attention to the kind of moving and shaking that makes headlines in the media and not enough to what makes headlines with God. I am hungry for more and more of this moving and shaking. I am excited to see, and experience, all that God has for in store in our community.

I have been saying ever since I moved here that God is up to something good in our community. The reality is that I have been saying this more in faith and hope than with real conviction. I am now saying with great conviction that God is up to something good in our community.

I believe the other “movers and shakers” would agree. I for one don’t want to miss any of what God has in mind for us. I am praying that you will be moved and shaken by God’s love, grace, forgiveness and power. How about it, are you ready for some moving and shaking in your life?

Dennis

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What do Empty Seats Say to You?

This week I am spending time sitting in all of the seats in our sanctuary and praying for whoever will be sitting in that seat during our Revival/Renewal services that begin soon. I often walk up and down the rows and pray for people during the week. But I felt led to sit in each seat and spend some time praying. I have never done that before, at least not for every seat.

As I have been sitting in the seats and praying I have been struck by how many empty seats we have on any given Sunday. I see the empty seats when I am preaching, but sitting in them and realizing how many of them rarely have anyone sitting in them is really getting to me. It is increasing my burden and encouraging me that we can reach many more people.

I have sat and prayed in half of the seats at this point. There have been a few times already in I was overcome with a burden for whoever is going to sit in that spot. In some of the cases I could picture the person because there is someone who usually sits in that seat. After all, many people sit in the exact same place each Sunday. (You know who you are.) There have also been some moments of burden while praying in a seat that doesn’t have a regular resident. I am anxious to see who sits there and what God has in store.

I believe I will look at these seats differently from now on. I am confident this will not be the last time I do this prayer exercise. I can sense a growing burden to see the seats filled with people. Not just for the attendance but for the impact on people’s lives. Another part of my learning this week has been what each seat could represent. There is just one person who sits in that seat during any given service. But that person represents more than one. All of us have multiple people in our sphere of influence. This week I am getting a picture of the growing reach we can have in our community. Not just from those who attend a given service but in the witness they can have in their world.

I am looking at the empty seats this week and feeling a renewed call to my community. I am seeing the empty seats and expanding my dream for our church. I have a growing burden for the empty seats in my church.

What do you see when you look at the empty seats around you?

Dennis

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Monday Morning Musings …

Yesterday was a wonderful, difficult and powerful day. March is here and I am excited for everything that is coming this month. Let’s get to the musings …

-Yesterday we had the most beautiful snowfall we have had all winter. The problem is that this snow came on March 1. I am okay with winter but I believe it should be done by March 1st. The snowfall was beautiful and it wasn’t nearly as much as had been predicted but it still kept a lot, I mean a whole lot, of people away from church.

-We had a good time in worship. The spirit was very good in the whole worship service.

-The message was the last of the series on “Breaking Free from Financial Bondage”. The congregation seemed to be engaged throughout the sermon. I called a couple of guys up to be visual aids for an illustration. They cooperated but seemed a bit nervous, probably because I didn’t warn them ahead of time. Hey, I love to keep ‘em guessing.

-We had our District Superintendent at our house for lunch. Enjoyed spending time with him. He is a great leader who has a real passion for Christ and the church.

-We are beginning a class this week in follow-up to this message series. The class is entitled “Budgeter’s Anonymous” and is dealing with setting up, tracking and following a budget. I am really excited for this and for those who will be participating in this class. I think we will start each with “Hi, my name is Dennis and I struggle with my budget”. What do you think?

-Last evening we had a Concert of Prayer for revival. It was one of the most powerful times of group prayer that I have been a part of in a long time. My wife and I both commented after it was over that it seemed like something broke loose during the prayer times. We have special services beginning this coming Sunday. We had a reasonable number of people come and pray together for a little over an hour. Everyone participated and there were many tears as we prayed. I am more convinced than ever that God is up to something good here in Canton.

-It was a difficult day as I was burdened for some individuals and the difficult things they are going through. People in our church and others in our community who are not a part of our church. Leading is sometimes difficult because of what you know and what you must do because of what you know. I have been praying for several friends who are facing some very tough stuff. The good news is “God is still God” and that is always true. That phrase was my Dad’s theme throughout his 44 years as a pastor. That is a pretty solid theme don’t you think?

-I also met with a couple for their final pre-marital counseling session before their wedding. The last session is always fun because it is 90% about the wedding day and seeing their excitement and joy is just plain fun.

-Yesterday was another reminder of how awesome my wife is. It is not that I need reminders because she is awesome each day. But yesterday was full of evidence of her awesomeness. (Is awesomeness a word? If it isn’t it should be just for her.)

This week is a different week since our Revival/Renewal services begin this Sunday. That means I am not studying and preparing a message for this week. I am studying and preparing for the next several Sundays but that is much less pressure packed since those messages are in the future. I am planning to spend a lot of that extra time in prayer for our special services. One way in which I challenged the group who came to pray last night was to come to the church throughout this week and sit in each seat in the sanctuary and pray for the seat to be filled and pray for the person who will sit there. I am going to do that and am hopeful that a couple of other people will as well.

Here’s hoping you are excited and looking forward to this week.

Dennis

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5 Ways to Make Your Pastor’s Sermons Better …

I was joking with my congregation recently and told them that I preach better when they sing passionately during our worship service. I went on to tell them that the quality of my preaching that day was completely dependent on them. We laughed together. But it got me thinking about ways in which a congregation can really help their pastor’s preaching.

1) Pray for your pastor and his message – this means praying for him/her at times during the week as they study and prepare. Then praying for them on Sunday as they begin the message as well. When you invest in the message ahead of time through prayer you are more likely to view the message positively. It is always good to pray for your pastor, but praying for their sermon prep is vital.

2) Look interested and engaged during the message – While your pastor is speaking look up and be engaged in what is being said. Look at your bible or notes, but there is a lot of time to be looking up. Looking up lets your pastor know you are listening and it encourages him. When your pastor is encouraged he/she preaches better.

3) Inform your pastor that you pray for his/her preparation – we all appreciate knowing that people are praying for us. Be specific and let your pastor know you are praying for their study and preparation. Even ask if there is something in particular you can pray for as they prepare this week. Knowing that people are praying as I study gives me strength throughout the week.

4) Be a participant in the whole worship service – when you sing during the music, when you pray during prayer time and when you give during the offering you are fully invested in the worship service. When you are invested and engaged in the whole service you are prepared to hear, receive and respond to your pastor’s sermon.

5) Speak positively about your pastor, and his/her preaching, during the week – this will give you a positive outlook as you enter on Sunday and it will help others to approach the message positively. Even if your pastor is not a great orator, speak positively about them and you may be surprised at how much better the sermons become.

It is always easier to preach to a group that is supportive, expectant, positive, prayerful and engaged. Try some of these things and see what happens. You may discover that your pastor is preaching better. At the very least you will know that you have done your best to support and encourage your pastor.

Here’s hoping that the message you receive this week is outstanding.

Dennis

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What’s Behind the Message?

As I have been studying, reading, praying and attempting to prepare my sermon for this Sunday I can’t stop crying. This morning as I was weeping over what I want so desperately to communicate with the congregation God has trusted me with, I am struggling because I know I am so inadequate.

This is not a self-pity, or woe is me, moment. This is simply a time of being overwhelmed by the burden of communicating the message of God’s word to the people who will attend this Sunday. I am crying because I need this message. I am crying because I know my limitations in communicating. I am crying because I so passionately want people to know this truth. I am crying because I have names and faces passing through my mind as I study. I am crying because I can be a bit of a crier. I am crying because Jesus has done so much for us and has so much more for us if we will embrace him and his will for us. I am crying.

Simple fact, it is difficult to type when your eyes are full of tears.

I am not seeking any “atta boy” compliments, I am just sharing the burden.

Sometimes I have wished that people could have some peek into the emotional investment that their pastor has in each message. Or at least the investment we should have in each message. The burden to communicate God’s word to a group of people in a way that connects, convicts and encourages them to respond in living obedience to the word. That is an enormous burden. I am not preparing a speech. I am preparing to open and share God’s word.

I have stated many times that I still get nervous (and I have been doing this for 30 years) every time before I share God’s word. Why? For all of the reasons I shared in the above paragraph. So if I ever walk up to share the word of God and am not nervous, then that needs to be my last message.

What’s behind the message? There is time spent reading, studying, praying, planning, listening, practicing and often times weeping.

I just thought you should know and I pray that you will listen to your pastor’s sermon with this understanding this Sunday.

Dennis

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Kenya Trip #5 …

Yesterday we celebrated my oldest grandchild’s birthday. My grandson turned 17. He is a an awesome young man (wow, can’t believe I am using the word “man” in a description of one of my grandkids, but it is a fact). He has a great heart for Christ and for other people. He is funny and thoughtful. He loves music and movies. He is a reader and thinker. He is athletic and good looking. He is researching colleges and wants to make a difference in the world. He isn’t perfect, but as I already wrote, I think he is awesome.

We also went to a local vegetable market and there are people there who sell souvenirs as well. I loved the experience and again am reminded of so much that I take for granted back home. I love the hospitality of the Kenyan people. I loved seeing how my son and daughter in law know these people. They know their names and some of their stories as well.

We talked more about some future ministry possibilities that my son and daughter in law are pursuing. Wow! I was reminded of when we dedicated my son to the Lord. My Dad was the pastor who did the dedication. Part of what he said and challenged my wife and me with was that we were dedicating him to the Lord. Not for our preferences but for God’s call on his life. We gave him to the Lord while he was a baby. He chose to personally follow Christ as a teen. He has, and is, answering God’s call on his life. He still belongs to the Lord. I trust the Lord. As a parent I still have moments of worry and fear. But I know that God loves my kids and grandkids even more than I do. Therefore, I embrace where they are headed. I will continue to pray fiercely for them. I will love them passionately and encourage them in any way I can. But I will also worry some.

The birthday boy and I played some ping pong. Then my son and grandson and I played some ping pong. I didn’t do so well, but I sure enjoyed the time. We played a couple of other games and just soaked up being with this beautiful family.

I spent a lot of time reading my Bible yesterday. I was reminded over and over again of God’s faithfulness and that God has a plan for us. His plans are full of hope and a future. I needed that reminder.
My back is doing better, it is not completely free of pain but it is worlds better than the day before. If you prayed, thanks, it is improving and I am hopeful that the 18 hours of plane rides when we head home will be okay.

Today is our last full day with the family. We will head toward the airport in the afternoon tomorrow and are scheduled to fly out about 10:30 Thursday night (Kenya time). This has been an awesome trip. Again let me say thanks for all who helped us get here and for all who have been praying for us.

Dennis

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Monday Afternoon Musings …

I am reflecting and musing after the noon hour today. My wife and I are at our District’s Pastor and Spouse retreat and I was lazy this morning so I am just now getting around to typing. This retreat is a much needed couple of days away and I am so grateful to my church for sending us to this retreat. I serve a great group of people.

-Yesterday the music and prayer time in our worship was very powerful. There was a tremendous sense of the God’s presence and power in the service.

-Illness and other things really piled on yesterday as our attendance was very low. This was the lowest worship attendance in my 8 months here. I did not see this one coming.

-The congregation seemed very engaged during the sermon. I am praying much that our church will really take hold of the opportunities they have in prayer. That they will pray with confidence and courage. That they will pray boldly. That they will begin to make prayer their default action no matter what they encounter.

-I received a sweatshirt of my favorite college team from the youth of our church and my wife received a beautiful plant. These were part of a Pastor Appreciation plan they are doing for us. Did I mention I love this group of encouraging people?

-My wife and I left in the early afternoon yesterday to head to our retreat. We actually came a day early to get a little extra time of refreshment. I love spending time with her.

-We kicked off a renewed focus on Children’s Ministry yesterday. We have several people involved who have not been involved recently and I am excited about the changes. Unfortunately we didn’t have many children in attendance yesterday.

-I am loving the many reports I am receiving from my people about their prayer times. Especially how God is opening doors for conversations with the 3 people for whom they are specifically targeting in prayer to see them come to faith in Christ.

-I love how God upholds me when I am struggling. Yesterday was a difficult day for me and I was doubting a lot of stuff about our ministry plan, and other things as the day began. As I prayed yesterday I really asked for strength and help to focus on the great stuff that is happening. God was, and always is, faithful and he really lifted me yesterday.

-We are trying to get everything together, money and plans, to be able to go visit our son, daughter-in-law, and 5 grandkids in Kenya just after Thanksgiving. I don’t know if they need to see us, but I know we need to see and hug them.

Here’s hoping you can reflect on the presence and blessings of God today. If you ever desire to have another person praying for you, just send me a note and I would be honored to lift you in prayer. God is still God no matter what you are facing.

Dennis

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Monday Morning Musings …

Yesterday was a long day with many positive happenings. Sundays often feel like longer days by the nature of the energy and emotion spent, however yesterday just seemed a little longer. Some of the things that made yesterday feel longer were from events leading up to Sunday. Maybe the more accurate statement is that last week was a long week. Now for some musings …

-I am very excited to see everything God is going to do in our church, and beyond, in the next few weeks. We are focusing on prayer and learning how to change our world through prayer.

-I don’t remember the last time I felt a greater burden to preach a message than I felt yesterday. The message was on praying for our lost family, friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors and beyond.

-I challenged my church to pray specifically for 3 people who they are acquainted with who are without Jesus as their personal Savior. They can pray for more, but for the next few weeks to focus on intensely on 3.

-We are using a symbol as a reminder. Hold up 3 fingers, your index, middle and ring finger and then touch your thumb and pinky with the thumb on top. The 3 fingers will represent the 3 friends we are praying for, the pinky is us and the thumb is the Lord. As you hold up the 3 fingers and pray for your friends you are remembering that you and the Lord are surrounding them in prayer. I challenged them to pray for their friends every time they saw the number 3 this week and to use it as an encouraging signal to one another whenever they see each other this week.

-We had some major technical issues yesterday. These were mainly the result of having our worship computer stolen last week. Not sure when it happened as we didn’t discover it until Saturday. So there was some major scrambling going on Saturday and all through worship. But God is still God and we had a great time of worship.

-I was so burdened for this message that I fumbled a bit in presenting it. Praying hard that the Holy Spirit filled in where I failed. He usually does, I just made him work a little harder yesterday.

-Had a fun time in the afternoon with a group from our church who went to a local (an hour away) orchard that has all kinds of great stuff to see, do and buy. Their cider cake donuts are Awesome! That’s right, Awesome with a capital A. I brought some home since my wife was not able to go. I am about to eat 2(more).

-I was encouraged by the dedication of a group of servants who will be leading a renewed focus on our children’s ministry on Sunday mornings. They had a meeting last evening to set schedules and get everyone on the same page. I loved hearing their burden and passion for children. God is really up to something good around here.

-Our small group did not meet last night due to the afternoon event and the meeting for children’s workers. I missed being with them.

-We had a lot of regulars missing yesterday and still had a reasonable attendance. Kind of odd to me, but our September attendances were lower than August. I don’t know if I have ever had that in any church I pastored.

-Last week there were many things that created heartache. Hearing news of several situations increased my prayer list and burden. But, God is still God and I am depending on Him.

-Heard some good reports from people doing the daily devotional for this sermon series on prayer.

-Irritated about the theft of the computer we used to run things in worship. It was due to be upgraded, but this is not an expense that we planned for this church year. Just reminding myself that God is still God and he will provide.

Here’s hoping you have a great week and that you remember you are not alone. I am praying that you will be encouraged today as you see God at work.

Dennis

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My Prayer Today …

I laughed as I started praying this morning. I know that laughter and prayer don’t normally go together for most people, but it happened during some of my prayer time this morning. I awoke at 3:45 as in the AM, this has actually started to be a regular time for me. So I start praying, usually I go back to sleep in a few minutes. This morning I didn’t go back to sleep, so I kept praying.

As I continued to pray, still lying in bed (I was hoping to fall back asleep), I just began to laugh. I was laughing at the fact that it was now a little after 4:00 am and I was having a conversation with the Lord almighty. I laughed because I was lying in bed in Illinois praying for kids and grandkids in Kenya, Africa, in Michigan and in Iowa and thought how improbable and amazing that we would be in these places. I laughed because in a few hours I would be preaching, this was funny to me because I know me and I know how I was growing up. I laughed and thought I better go ahead and get up before I wake up my wife. At 4:15 am she probably wouldn’t be happy and might not laugh with me.

As I got up I kept praying and prayed for several people who are going through some difficult circumstances, some people who have some major physical stuff going on, some people who are fellow pastors and will be preaching today as well and some people who are running from God.

As I began to get ready for the day I kept praying. The prayer moved to praying for the worship service, for me to present God’s Word with passion and conviction, for our Sunday School teachers, for the worship team and for all need to attend this morning. I prayed for other pastors and churches in our town, that they would preach the word and that the Holy Spirit would dominate their worship.

I am laughing, well it is more of a chuckle at the moment (what exactly is the difference between a laugh and a chuckle?), as I type this in my office. I am laughing because I am full of joy and know that if God can use me as a pastor he can use anyone for anything. I sense that God is chuckling along with me on this one.

Here’s hoping you have joy in prayers today.

Dennis

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