Pray Always

Here's the scoop on the "Praying for Your Husband" reminder system! 

I've started a text-message reminder system with specific ways to pray for my husband, and I would love it if you'd join me. Text @prayalways to this phone number: (424) 269-7031.

A little back story:
Over the Christmas break I was having a fun lunch with my Mom, my sister (Kim), and my sister-in-law (Kellye). In getting settled, Kellye glanced down at her phone and exclaimed, “It’s 11:11!” Then she proceeded to tell us how she and Jim stop to pray for each other whenever they notice that it’s 11:11. (I’ll pause here while you go, “awwww!”)  And so we all did just that – we stopped and prayed for our husbands right then.  It was just a little thing that happened unexpectedly, but it stuck with me, and it made me start thinking about how often I pray for Bob and HOW I pray for him.  I think about him all the time, and you could definitely say that I pray for him a lot, but unless there is something going on that we’re specifically praying about my prayers tend toward the “please keep him safe” and “please take care of Bob” types of prayers.

I want to pray more purposefully for my husband, so I got this idea to set up a reminder system, along with different ideas for how to pray for him.  I put together a HUGE list of ways to pray for my husband (of course the Internet came in handy – specifically Pinterest). And it occurred to me that I probably am not the only one who wants to do this, so I decided to set up a text-reminder system and invite my friends to join.

So – if you want regular reminders (via text message) with specific ways you can pray for your husband every day, text this code: @prayalways to this phone number: (424) 269-7031  Doing that will subscribe you the message list.  It will also give you info on how to unsubscribe, should you change your mind.  If you don't text, or if you’d rather receive an email, you can send an email to prayalways@mail.remind101.com  Just leave the subject line blank.

You'll receive regular reminders of specific ways you can pray for your husband. They come about every other day and at different times of the day (so that you don’t get into a rut and think, “oh, I can ignore that message”).  You don’t necessarily have to stop what you’re doing and pray right then for your husband (but you can – in full 11:11 fashion!), but the text will serve as a reminder and will give you something to pray and think about for your husband.

And so I invite you to text @prayalways to (424) 269-7031 and join me in praying every day, specifically, for our husbands.   And feel free to share the code and the number with your friends.  There is no way for you to see who else is subscribed, so it’s private in that sense, but it’s also a great way to stay accountable.

One last thing: I want to make sure we all understand that praying for your husband is not some “magical” way to control him.   We have the privilege of coming before the throne of the Living God and bringing our requests to Him – not so that we can wield prayer like some weapon to train our husbands, but so that we can rely on God’s power to transform us, our husbands, our marriages, and our lives.  I know that we all come from different places in our walk with the Lord and in our marriages, but whether your marriage is strong or struggling, I would encourage you to deliberately lay down your own desires before the Lord and ask Him to work in YOUR LIFE as much as you’re asking Him to work in your husband’s.  In fact, as I was putting this list together I found myself thinking, “I need to pray these things for myself, too!”   So pray, every day, and allow your heart to be soft toward the leading of the Holy Spirit in your marriage and in your life.

I really hope you’ll join me!

Introducing the NEW Biblical Minute!

 Here's a note from Dr. Steel (I call him "Dad") regarding the NEW Biblical Minute.  

Dear Friends,

Thanks to each of you who participated in our recent survey. We are grateful for those who love us and pray for us! We love you too.

Your suggestions were positive and helpful.  Among other things, folks did not seem to have a handle on all of our sites and the resources they contain.

We have responded to the survey by creating a single functional site that provides quick and easy access for the busy servant of Christ. Don’t be fooled by the minimalistic look of the site. This site will soon aggregate most, if not all, of the resources on our other domains.

More than a remodel, this is a repurposing of the Biblical Minute  site. 

Additionally, our device friendly site now contains articles and media, which will be more readable, more printable, more viewable by more people, and more suited for teaching purposes.

We are just now implementing a new technology to transform all our PDF’s so that our materials will all be readable by folks limited to dialup. This will require a little time for us to do the conversions, but will be helpful in the end, especially for foreign readers.

We have included a Book Studies section containing full length Bible Book Studies which either Jim or Bob have written. We are also adding sections on Sound Doctrine, Prophecy, False Teachings, and, Salvation and Growth. Of course, we have many other articles just waiting to see the light of day as time and facilities allow.

 We have uploads galore, ranging from 10 minute video presentations to full video or audio studies. Add to that lots of PowerPoint materials, and other images.

You will receive periodic notices regarding a new article or news posting.

You will receive a few more emails during the next thirty days as we add materials on a daily basis. Things will then slow down as we start our road ministry. Thanks for understanding!

Please do take a peek as soon as possible!

When checking back from time to time you will want to visit our Featured Resource page to see what subjects or issues are on the front burner.  For example, at the present time we're featuring a two part video which relates the Bible's Old and New Covenants.  We need this sound Bible teaching.

Thank you for sharing your input, and thanks in advance for your patience while we go through the conversion.


Jim


P.S. Important! The first time you visit our repurposed site you may need to refresh your browser (F5) on each page. If you don’t see the BLUE BANNER across the top, you need to do a refresh.

Psalm 102 and a song for you! (I rhymed!)

Read the Psalm. Then listen to the song. Good stuff! :-)

Psalm 102

The Lord’s Eternal Love

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And let my cry come to You.
² Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble;
Incline Your ear to me;
In the day that I call, answer me speedily.

³ For my days are consumed like smoke,
And my bones are burned like a hearth.
⁴ My heart is stricken and withered like grass,
So that I forget to eat my bread.
⁵ Because of the sound of my groaning
My bones cling to my skin.
⁶ I am like a pelican of the wilderness;
I am like an owl of the desert.
⁷ I lie awake,
And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.

⁸ My enemies reproach me all day long;
Those who deride me swear an oath against me.
⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mingled my drink with weeping,
¹⁰ Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
¹¹ My days are like a shadow that lengthens,
And I wither away like grass.

¹² But You, O Lord, shall endure forever,
And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.
¹³ You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
For the time to favor her,
Yes, the set time, has come.
¹⁴ For Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
And show favor to her dust.
¹⁵ So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord shall build up Zion;
He shall appear in His glory.
¹⁷ He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,
And shall not despise their prayer.

¹⁸ This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
¹⁹ For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
From heaven the Lord viewed the earth,
²⁰ To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To release those appointed to death,
²¹ To declare the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
²² When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

²³ He weakened my strength in the way;
He shortened my days.
²⁴ I said, “O my God,
Do not take me away in the midst of my days;
Your years are throughout all generations.
²⁵ Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but You will endure;
Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will change them,
And they will be changed.
²⁷ But You are the same,
And Your years will have no end.
²⁸ The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.”

The song is "You are God Alone" by Phillips, Craig, & Dean. There's a typo in the lyrics (an ironic testament to the fallibility of men). :-)

Reblogging Today...

One of my new favorite blogs to read is the blog of Dr. Georgia Purdom, who writes for Answers in Genesis.  Her blog post from today is a great example of some of the excellent points she makes. I hope you'll check it out. 

Another Biblical Minute!

Here it is, almost 3 weeks since its arrival, and I'm just now reminding you of the next issue of The Biblical Minute! Be sure to check it out - this one has a TON of great information and helpful study tools.
Here's a teaser from the Table of Contents:

• Page 4: The "REST" of the Story -- learning to REST and not fear!
• Page 8: Switching Off the Bullying Gene -- quick tips for children AND church members! (Designed to be printed and posted!) 
• Page 10: Growing Your Witness -- family tips for sharing Christ!
• Page 12: I am NOT a Mormon -- do we stigmatize Mormonism unfairly?
• Page 14: Who's Coming to Dinner -- reconsider what you think you know about The Lord's Table!
• Page 18: Ring Out the New! -- "Christ makes all things new, but not all "new things" are of Christ!" 

See! I told you it was jam-packed! And these are just the main articles! There are also pages of helpful hints, valuable resources, and (for those of you who follow the Steels' travels) updates on where the ministry is headed.  You don't want to miss it!

Check it out now! The Biblical Minute.