Author: Prodigal

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Galatians 5:24 (NRSV)

Prodigal Thoughts: Why is it so difficult to steer clear of sin? I mean, we are told in Galatians 5:1 that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. What makes worldly ways so tempting? I guess because sin (no matter what kind of sin it is) is usually instantly gratifying. We get to experience whatever high or distance or pleasure and we get to forget about the world around us. We can choose to be selfish and can put our problems on hold for a little while. Following Jesus is typically NOT instantly gratifying, probably because followers of Jesus are to consider others before themselves. True believers cannot live in a self-centered way and still serve God. The good news is that the trade off is so much better than living in sin. We can serve God by serving others. The satisfaction of serving someone else whether they act like they appreciate it or not, helps to create that positive reinforcement that fuels the next act of service to both God and our fellow humans. Over time, our passions and desires become a reflection of God’s passions and desires.

Prayer for today: Father, we praise You for making a way for us to serve You and Your kingdom. May You open our eyes to see opportunities to serve You by serving others around us. I pray that we would live boldly and speak clearly the gospel of Your son, Jesus. May You empower us to live lives that are pleasing to You. Amen.

Need prayer? You can reply here or you can send me a facebook message through the Prodigal Thinker page. If this encourages you, feel free to share it. Feel free to reply with feedback as well. I’m always open to discussion.

God’s grace on you…

Prodigal Mike~

Photo credit: Vie Studio

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Prodigal Mike ~Mike
Prodigal Thinker Blog

@ProdigalThinkerBlog on FB

So, I’m taking a bible course online to meet requirements toward ordination and in one of the books I’m reading from, there have been several questions that were asked. These questions have REALLY gotten this prodigal to thinking.

"Did Jesus ever intend on creating that company of followers we call "the church"?

"Did Jesus have anything to do with the formation of the Christian church? And if he did, how did he shape its special character?"

What are your thoughts? You can comment below or you can email me at mike – Just a quick mention, the comments are moderated and must be approved.

Link to the book

Photo credit: Keira Burton

"Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;.."

Joel 2:12 (NRSV)

Prodigal Thoughts: Did you catch that? God doesn’t need you to "fix everything" or "get your life straightened up" before you come to Him. The book of Joel was written about 800 years before Jesus came on the scene. (You can read more about Joel HERE.) A lot of things were going pretty badly around Judah and Jerusalem and God speaks through the prophet Joel words of encouragement and refuge. It really reminds me a lot of the hope that people need to hear, especially the victims of the recent flooding in Tennessee, victims of Hurricane Ida, the Afghan people, and so many others who are suffering such harsh loss and devastation. Our heavenly Father is telling His children that they can come to Him in their weakness and fragility. God is just waiting on us to turn our hearts to Him. The encouragement Joel speaks in chapters 2 & 3 speak of God restoring the land as well as our relationships with the Creator. So, did God make those things happen? By NO means! He lets nature take its course. Is the Father saddened by all of the tragic loss? Absolutely! I’m sure the eyes of our Father are wet with tears as He sees His children trying to put their lives back together and He stands ready…waiting on us to come to Him.

Prayer for today: Father, I pray for all of those around the world who are dealing with such tragic loss and destruction, but also for those who the situations of life have caused painful wounds and battle scars (physical AND emotional/mental). I thank You that You are standing at the ready for us to call out to You. I pray that we would better understand the importance of a hope-filled relationship with You and that we would turn our hearts and lives over into Your nail-scarred hands. I know that there is no part of our life that we cannot place in Your trust. We give all of this to You. Please glorify Your name and Your kingdom. Amen!

Need prayer? You can reply here or you can send me a facebook message through the Prodigal Thinker page. If this encourages you, feel free to share it. Feel free to reply with feedback as well. I’m always open to discussion.

God’s grace on you…

Prodigal Mike~

Photo credit: Juan Vargas

To allow more time for you to enter to win, we will now be holding the drawings on Friday, September 10th. Remember, a drawing will be held for each of the sites. Website & Facebook page.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES:

PRODIGAL THINKER BLOG: For each like and comment, your name (username) will be entered into the drawing. An additional way would be to head over to the FB page and follow there.

PRODIGAL THINKER FB PAGE: Your name will be entered for each like, comment, and share.

"May the odds ever be in your favor!" (Quote from Hunger Games)

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:13 (NRSV)

Prodigal Thoughts: Have you met someone that is just so greedy? So selfish that it makes you wonder how they have been able to function in life for this long? The times I find myself gripping on to money or time or something that God could use to reach out to others, the less I feel I am connected to the Father. But the times that I am open and have a surrendered heart to what God may want to do, I find that He feels much closer. It isn’t that He has gone anywhere. In those moments, I have taken a step away from Him. Thankfully, our heavenly Father knows nothing of being greedy. Not only are His arms open wide to welcome us into His love and kingdom, but His hands are open as well. Ready to give you the love, grace, mercy, peace, and compassion you need. He didn’t withhold His son, Jesus from us and He freely gives the presence of the Holy Spirit to those who call on His name. He wants to make sure we have everything we need so we are equipped to not only be full of His love, but to extend that love and hope to others around us. So, are you holding back? Are you being stingy with the presence and love of God? If we are made in the image of God (and we are, there is no doubt), then shouldn’t we be open-handed as well?

Prayer for today: Father, I pray that we would have hearts and hands that are open and ready to share the gifts You give us to the world around us. I pray that we wouldn’t be greedy or hold onto those things, but instead, we would surrender to Your will and let those blessings bless others. I pray that You would give us the grace we need to forgive others who have been greedy with us and that we would be a blessing instead of a blockade. May You help us see Your heart for others? I love you, Papa. Amen.

Need prayer? You can reply here or you can send me a facebook message through the Prodigal Thinker page. If this encourages you, feel free to share it. Feel free to reply with feedback as well. I’m always open to discussion.

God’s grace on you…

Prodigal Mike~

Photo credit: David Selbert

Hello friends!

Below is a list of prayer needs and updates if you would like to join in prayer. If you have prayer needs of your own, please feel free to let me know. You can reply here or send me a message through Facebook. You are prayed for and loved, my friends.

HEALTH ISSUES

Alice P. – enlarged liver

Anne H. – Diagnosed with Alzhiemers

Ariel M. – Hospitalized w/ COVID. (Drummer for the band Unspoken and co-worker’s husband)

Conan D. – Battling COVID on ventilator (my cousin-in-law)

Darrell B. – Battling cancer and other health issues

Delona family – battling COVID

Emily P. – difficulties w/ asthma – protection from COVID

Gary W. – Battling cancer

Harold C. – Health issues

Ilene W. – Health issues

Shannon M – battling COVID in hospital

Sandra A – recovering from COVID

Todd – Battling COVID in hospital

LIFE SITUATIONS

Shannon B – my schoolmate – passed away 08/26. Please pray for her family.

Victims of the flooding in Tennessee

Families in the wake of and recovering after Hurricane Ida

UNSPOKEN REQUESTS

Ayesha W.

Hayden J.

Jennifer

Paulette B.

Troy M.

UPDATES

Bates family – Thankful for all of your prayers. The LORD has provided the funding to buy their home.

James Y. – passed away 08/28 – was battling COVID

Mike T. – Was able to have heart surgery. Recovering now

Pat – recovering from surgery – thankful for all prayers

Phillip W – passed away 08/27. Please pray for his family. Was battling cancer and COVID.

ONGOING PRAYERS

Those battling and/or recovering from COVID.

Nurses/Doctors/Healthcare workers – protection from virus and comfort as they help patients to recover.

Those who need salvation (love/hope of God)

The situation in Afghanistan

The forest fires in Western US Those who serve our country (all first responders, government, and political parties for God’s guidance and direction to lead)

Those who serve our country (all first responders, government, and political parties for God’s guidance and direction to lead)

The Church (worldwide) – that we would return to the heart of the Father in word and deed.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15 (NRSV)

Prodigal Thoughts: So, why a photo of a cup of coffee? Well, I could use a steamy cup of wake-up juice right now. The cup/mug is a vehicle to transport the goodness from the coffee pot to the consumer. In my opinion, as long as the cup is clean, I’m not to concerned with what the outside looks like. The verse is saying sort of the same thing. It is up to us to do what we can to allow the presence of God in our lives to do the cleansing and sanitizing (or sanctifying in this case). Then it is up to us to take the goodness (the word of truth=gospel of Jesus) to others. He is not so concerned about our outer appearance because He looks at the heart. Anyone can look at another and make assumptions, but God knows the condition of our hearts. I remember a fella that always drank his coffee out of the same cup. That cup was one that a close relative had given him and he had owned it for decades while he was in prison and when he was released, he took it with him. To look at the cup, it was old and stained and didn’t look very clean, but he washed it daily. Honestly, it was very valuable in his eyes. Aren’t we a bit like that stained coffee cup? The older I get, the more I realize that I carry the stains of my past, but, praise God Almighty, He can wash away those stains and make us new again. The outside may not change much, but the inside (where God looks anyway) can be radically changed. What if we carried the stains of holiness and right-living? The stains of a life lived after the example of Jesus? After all, we are God’s children and He values us above all creation. Would you take the risk and let Him cleanse you? Would you be willing to be a vehicle, a vessel used by God to share the hope of Jesus Christ?

Prayer for today: Papa, we thank You for today and the many blessings and mercies that are new today. Many of us have heavy hearts of loved ones that have left this earth. Many of us are trying to deal with the chaos and strife around us that often times seems too much to bear. I know that You can (and will) take our burdens and replace them with peace and compassion to see the situation through Your eyes. Will You clean us up and make us new again? Will You give us new life and hope that brings us back to life? Not only for our own sake, but so that we can share that hope with others? Oh, Father, we thank You again for loving us where we are. We love You, Daddy. Amen.

Need prayer? You can reply here or you can send me a Facebook message through the Prodigal Thinker page. If this encourages you, feel free to share it. Feel free to reply with feedback as well. I’m always open to discussion.

God’s grace on you…

Prodigal Mike~

Photo credit: Kaboompics.com

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Prodigal Mike ~Mike
Prodigal Thinker Blog

@ProdigalThinkerBlog on FB

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in his righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

#HymnsForHope #JesusComeQuickly #TooMuchDeath #PrayersForHealing

Photo credit: Luis Quintero

"The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life."

Proverbs 22:4 (NRSV)

Prodigal Thoughts: Several years ago, one of my children asked me if we were rich. I knew what she meant, but I took the opportunity to let her know that being "rich" really depends on what is valued. I told her, "by the world’s standards, we are not rich, but there are more riches than just money." I explained that having a loving and supportive, healthy family that loves God is far more valuable to me than heaps of money. Is money useful? Well, of course. We all know, except for some newlyweds out there, that you can’t live very long solely on love. The utility company doesn’t accept snuggles as a form of payment to keep your water running. But consider those folks that have loads of money, but they still seem so unhappy. Why do I bring this up? I believe this is what Solomon was writing about in this verse. Remember, he was the richest king of his day and he writes about humility and the fear (awe/respect) of the Lord is riches and honor and life? That helps put life in perspective for me. Of all of the things that Solomon had possession of, his relationship with his heavenly Father was the most valuable to him. God isn’t giving us a pat on the back or a lollipop if we sit still during church. He is giving our honor and life as a result of our humility and respecting who God is. You can’t put a monetary value on honor and life. So, what do you value? Are you chasing the "American Dream" or your next promotion? Are you continually frustrated that you are passed over for the next great opportunity? Don’t be. God wants to show us what HE values. What is that? Go take a look in a mirror. Yep. You and me.

Prayer for today: Father, God… I thank you for Your gift of grace to cover a multitude of sins, and Your mercy which is new everyday. I pray that we would align our hearts to value what Your heart values and to seek You in all that we do. That we would continually devote our lives deeper and deeper to You. I pray that You will be glorified and that the good news of Jesus Christ will roll off our lips and flow from our hearts. May You receive all praise, glory, and honor for all that is done in Your name on earth. Amen.

Need prayer? You can reply here or you can send me a facebook message through the Prodigal Thinker page. If this encourages you, feel free to share it. Feel free to reply with feedback as well. I’m always open to discussion.

God’s grace on you…

Prodigal Mike~

Photo credit: Somben Chea

Hello friends!

Below is a list of prayer needs and updates if you would like to join in prayer. If you have prayer needs of your own, please feel free to let me know. You can reply here or send me a message through Facebook. You are prayed for and loved, my friends.

HEALTH ISSUES

Anne H. – Diagnosed with Alzhiemers

Ariel M. – Hospitalized w/ COVID. (Drummer for the band Unspoken and co-worker’s husband)

Darrell B. – Battling cancer and other health issues

Emily P. – difficulties w/ asthma – protection from COVID

Gary W. – Battling cancer

Harold C. – Health issues

Ilene W. – Health issues

James Y. – Battling COVID – on a ventilator

Mike T. – Needs heart valve replacement surgery – hospitals are too full to admit and have surgery

Monroe family – COVID (Kem and Shannon)

Phillip W – Sent home with hospice and has COVID

Sandra A – recovering from COVID

LIFE SITUATIONS

Victims of the flooding in Tennessee

Hayfield family – loss of a family member (was a very influential figure for young folks in the community.

UNSPOKEN REQUESTS

Ayesha W.

Bates family

Craig family

Dani O.

Franks family

Hayden J.

Jennifer

Jessica T.

Kathy D.

Paulette B.

Tony C.

Troy M.

UPDATES

Jessica W. – healed from shingles

Pat – recovering from surgery – thankful for all prayers

ONGOING PRAYERS

Those battling and/or recovering from COVID.

Nurses/Doctors/Healthcare workers – protection from virus and comfort as they help patients to recover.

Those who need salvation (love/hope of God)

The situation in Afghanistan

The forest fires in Western US Those who serve our country (all first responders, government, and political parties for God’s guidance and direction to lead)

The Church (worldwide) – that we would return to the heart of the Father in word and deed.