One more opportunity for us to do something meaningful. Malaria is a tropical disease that kills over 750,000 children each year. That’s one child every 30 seconds. In Africa, mosquitoes make a huge difference in the lives of poor families and children. And it all starts with a tiny bite. This is your chance to Bite Back.Friday, May 30, 2008
BITE BACK!
One more opportunity for us to do something meaningful. Malaria is a tropical disease that kills over 750,000 children each year. That’s one child every 30 seconds. In Africa, mosquitoes make a huge difference in the lives of poor families and children. And it all starts with a tiny bite. This is your chance to Bite Back.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Ob Portu
Definitely N.O.W!
Here’s a factoid for you: Back in the day, before modern harbors and engine powered speed boats, ships had to wait for the “flood tide” to carry them into port from the ocean. The Latin phrase “ob portu” referred to that single moment in time when the ‘flood tide” would reveal itself and the ships could catch it into shore. This is where we get our English word “opportunity!”
Call me simple minded, but I think there are basically two ways to go about life: survival mode or prayer mode. Survival mode is simply reacting to the circumstances around you, being tossed by every wave of life. It’s getting caught in the swell, and allowing the circumstance to pretty much dictate your response. Prayer mode, on the other hand, is pro-active not reactive. It puts you in the position to see the opportunities in the circumstances of life, and respond appropriately. This applies to even the extremely hard circumstances of life. Think about how Ester responded when she found out that King Xerxes was allowing the mass genocide of the Jews (her peeps) to take place (Read Ester 4:13-16 for the play by play). Mind you, historians are in consensus that Xerxes was impulsive and unpredictable. During his reign, Xerxes commissioned a bridge to be built, but during construction a huge storm came and destroyed everything. Xerxes ordered for the water to receive 300 lashes, and for ALL of the builders to be beheaded.
This guy was a nut case. Ester had to go to King Xerxes (something you just didn’t do, punishable by death) and convince him to not allow this genocide to take place. So what did she do before she went to see the King? What gave her the courage, and even the words to say? Prayer!
People who are in perpetual prayer mode simply see the world and the circumstances of life differently. In prayer mode prayer is a part of your daily life; your spiritual antenna is up and your radar is on. This gives new meaning to the phrase “prayer LIFE.” Do you go through the day in constant contact with God? Prayer does that. Do you desire to take advantage of more opportunities in your life? Prayer mode puts you in the position. Do you desire for God to show up and move in your life so that you can even see the OPPORTUNITY in even the hardest of circumstances like Ester did? A lifestyle of prayer is the answer. And let me encourage you if your prayer life has been none existent: Then start N.O.W (No Opportunity Wasted)!
“Ob Portu!"
Here’s a factoid for you: Back in the day, before modern harbors and engine powered speed boats, ships had to wait for the “flood tide” to carry them into port from the ocean. The Latin phrase “ob portu” referred to that single moment in time when the ‘flood tide” would reveal itself and the ships could catch it into shore. This is where we get our English word “opportunity!”
Call me simple minded, but I think there are basically two ways to go about life: survival mode or prayer mode. Survival mode is simply reacting to the circumstances around you, being tossed by every wave of life. It’s getting caught in the swell, and allowing the circumstance to pretty much dictate your response. Prayer mode, on the other hand, is pro-active not reactive. It puts you in the position to see the opportunities in the circumstances of life, and respond appropriately. This applies to even the extremely hard circumstances of life. Think about how Ester responded when she found out that King Xerxes was allowing the mass genocide of the Jews (her peeps) to take place (Read Ester 4:13-16 for the play by play). Mind you, historians are in consensus that Xerxes was impulsive and unpredictable. During his reign, Xerxes commissioned a bridge to be built, but during construction a huge storm came and destroyed everything. Xerxes ordered for the water to receive 300 lashes, and for ALL of the builders to be beheaded.
This guy was a nut case. Ester had to go to King Xerxes (something you just didn’t do, punishable by death) and convince him to not allow this genocide to take place. So what did she do before she went to see the King? What gave her the courage, and even the words to say? Prayer!
People who are in perpetual prayer mode simply see the world and the circumstances of life differently. In prayer mode prayer is a part of your daily life; your spiritual antenna is up and your radar is on. This gives new meaning to the phrase “prayer LIFE.” Do you go through the day in constant contact with God? Prayer does that. Do you desire to take advantage of more opportunities in your life? Prayer mode puts you in the position. Do you desire for God to show up and move in your life so that you can even see the OPPORTUNITY in even the hardest of circumstances like Ester did? A lifestyle of prayer is the answer. And let me encourage you if your prayer life has been none existent: Then start N.O.W (No Opportunity Wasted)!
“Ob Portu!"
-Byron Davis is Director of "Dream of Destiny" at Shepherd of the Hills.
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