The Letter

Dear Bro. Kelly,

I recently visited your church and really enjoyed my time there.  The greeters at the door were so nice and cordial; the people at the Welcome Center were very friendly and helpful and showed me where to find the worship service and where to take the children.  I had wanted to come to church for quite a while, but I was a little afraid of what it might be like but everyone set me at ease.

The teacher in my children’s rooms were very nice and made my little ones feel right at home and told me about how to pick them up after the services.  The ushers at the door all smiled and handed me a program and said, “Good morning,” and asked if I was meeting someone or if they could help me find a seat.  I told them I was by myself and could find a seat, but I appreciated their attitude of helpfulness.  There was some great information in that program and several things sounded like they were designed just for me.

When I was seated, there were several people who said “hello” and introduced themselves.  I even saw a few people I knew.  When the service began, I was so lifted up and inspired by the beautiful music.  I did not recognize all of the songs because it has been awhile since I have been to church, but the words on the screen really helped and there was a real genuineness from those on the platform.  I have been away from God and I could begin to feel Him speaking to me through the music and different things that were said.

When the Pastor got up to speak I followed along with the outline you provided in the program and the one on the screen and I felt like he had been reading my mail or my thoughts.  It was as if God was speaking directly to me.  I also felt like everyone around me could probably tell what I was thinking and surely I was standing out like a sore thumb.  Maybe everyone feels that way.  I felt like running, but I also felt like God was gently calling to welcome me back to Him.  I could not wait for the invitation.  I remembered that from years back and wanted to go forward and get things right with God.

Then the message began to get quiet and more serious and personal and I knew that it was time for me to make a decision.

However, apparently it was not that serious to everyone in the room.  I suddenly began to notice that during the invitation when everyone was asked to bow their heads and be quiet before God, that some around me were doing just the opposite.  Some young people a few rows ahead of me were talking and giggling together.  They appeared to be looking at something on their phone.  The lady seated on the same row as me began gathering up her Bible, purse, and other stuff and start looking down the row like she could not wait to get out.

Others in the next section of seats were actually gathering their things and making their way to the back door while the Pastor was talking.  Dozens of people, young and old, were just walking out of the room.  It was like they had not even heard the same message I heard.  I was so confused.  This message made me want to get serious with God, but others just wanted to get out to something more important.

Could you please tell me why people in your church feel this way?  I felt like the God was speaking to me, but maybe I was wrong.  I did not go forward.  I would like to come back and will probably be back next week, but I really do want to know what was going on.  Could you please get back to me on this?

Sincerely,

(name withheld)

I will just toss that question back to our people.  I know we have different responsibilities in different Bible study classes and other things, but perhaps the invitation time is not the best time to get up and disturb those around us.  Perhaps we should consecrate that invitation time as a time to examine ourselves before God and to be praying for those God has placed around us during those sacred moments.

Just a thought.

Your fellow pilgrim,

Bro. Kelly

PS  This was not a real letter from a real guest, but what if it had been?

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Do Not Be a “Greasy Spot.”

I learned not to play in the street.  She had a way of making a very dramatic point.  She told me that if I played in the street, I would surely get run over by a car and I would just be a “greasy spot on the road.”  I have to say that I looked at “greasy spots” on the road much differently after that.  They were little boys and girls who did not mind their mothers.

Save and Give…Quietly.

She taught me to save and when I cut open my first “piggy bank” at age 6 or 7 we went down to the Lamesa Savings and Loan and opened an account.  I had used that account to buy a car and some other things and kept it open till after I finished college.  But before I went down to open that first account, my Mom reminded me, “Don’t forget to take your tithe out of that for your offering.”  She showed me how to do it.  It amounted to less than $3, but it was a lot to me at that age.  I counted it out to put in an envelope and take it to church.  I remember making it all coins so it would be heavy and seem like a lot.  Mom asked me why I did it that way and explained to me that we do not give to be seen by men, but to be seen by God. 

Work is Good.

I got my first job working on a cotton farm when I was 9 years old.  I was moving irrigation pipe.  My Mom was afraid to let me go and do that job so she talked the farmer into letting her go with me.  She went with me and walked through that plowed ground, sometimes wet and sometimes dry, to move that heavy pipe for the first week.  I did not realize that was why she also took that job until years later.  When I was out throwing dirt clods at one of the other boys and having some fun, she reminded me that when we work, we do not need to get sidetracked.  It is OK to play, but just don’t let it interfere with the job you are hired to do.

Love God, the Bible, and Prayer!

Mom taught me to love God’s Word and to pray.  Almost every night when I went to bed, my Mom would come and read to me and then we would pray.  I was not as good with my own kids as she was with me.  We read all kinds of books.  Actually she read and I listened.  It was an early audio book.  We read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (which she later advised not to be read to young boys since it lead to too much mischief), Little Men, Black Beauty, Treasure Island, and more.  But we always read the Bible.  I remember she started me out on the huge Bible Story Book from Golden Books.  It had all the great Bible stories and exciting pictures.  We always prayed together about whatever was on our hearts after that and then went to bed.

These are just a few things I learned in the early years from Mom and I don’t have time for more now.  Moms can change the world.  And they do. 

Thanks Mom!  I Miss You!

Kelly

Prayer Journals in Kindle

Prayer Journals paperback

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Before you can win any contest there are several things you have to know.  You must know when the contest starts, the rules of engagement, what constitutes a win, who your opponent is, the resources available to you, and a strategy to victory.  Spiritual warfare requires the same information.  The fact is that every believer is involved in a war from the moment of salvation, but many do not realize it until it is too late. 

Announcing a New Bible Study Class at 10:55 AM on Sunday Mornings

If you are not currently involved in a Sunday Morning Bible Study, sign up for Bro. Kelly’s Class at the “Sign Up” table in the Atrium, or contact him by email kelly at highlandterrace org

Series Title:  “Spiritual Warfare for Peace Loving Christians” 

Teacher:  Bro. Kelly Carr

Starts:  Sunday, April 29^th

Time:  Sunday Mornings at 10:55 AM

Place:  C101 by the Elevator

Topics Include: 

• The Call to Battle
• The Enemy Who Wants to Destroy You
• The Resources Available To You
• A Strategy That Will Win

Keep watching for more to come…

The Biblical Support For Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6 talks about the fact that EVERY Christian is in a battle.  We are fighting a spiritual enemy.  Sometimes we get confused and think our enemies are the people around us, the people at work, the people in the opposing political party, the people in the other country.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We fight a spiritual foe and we need to learn how to do some spiritual self defense or we will get crippled and crushed.

Fortunately, the Bible tells us how to defend ourselves against this ancient foe that seeks to work us woe, as Martin Luther wrote.  We have to fight and win spiritual battles with spiritual armor and spiritual weapons.  God has not left us defenseless in this war.  We have the weapons we need to WIN!

“More than one battle in the history of warfare has been won because one side discovered the battle plans of the other.”  Dr. David Jeremiah

How do you put on the belt of truth?

How do you put on the breastplate of righteousness?  How do you keep it clean?

How do you lace up the shoes of the Gospel?

Where do you find a Shield of Faith that will not fail?

What difference does the Helmet of Salvation really make?  Why is your head so important anyway?

What is the Sword of the Spirit?  Can we use another Sword?

Why do we have to Pray at all times?

Do we have to wear ALL the Armor ALL the Time?

Our class will be following David Jeremiah’s amazing little booklet, “Spiritual Warfare:  Terms of Engagement.”  Don’t miss even one lesson or I am sure that is the area where the enemy’s attack will focus.

You fellow soldier,

Bro. Kelly

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PS  Here is a devotional book that may help in your battle.  “Daily Prayer Journal:  A Personal Guide to Daily Devotions” by Kelly Carr

Just 10 or 15 minutes a day in can change your life forever.  The “Daily Prayer Journal” is a proven and easy method of spending 10 or 15 minutes with God in prayer and Bible reading.  It is a prayerbook worth having.

One essential in becoming healthy and growing Christians is to be consistent in our daily devotional time with God.  There are certain activities that enhance our spiritual growth and development, just as there are certain activities that will diminish our spiritual health and vitality.

A Spiritual Journal

This “Daily Prayer Journal” is designed to be a tool that helps people develop and maintain a daily time with God and keep a journal of answered prayer and spiritual insights that are learned.  It is also designed to be a resource in other areas of a person’s spiritual life such as prayer, Bible study, evangelism, church life, and worship.

This book is designed to be interactive. Personalize it by adding your own prayer requests, and keeping a journal of answers to prayer, and important truths God has taught you. Include the date you first began praying for each request and the date that God answered your prayer.It will become a record of your own spiritual journey. You may want to get a new version each year.

A Prayerbook Organized Around Your Weekly Schedule

Each weekday section is designed to emphasize a different subject so that we develop a well-rounded prayer life. Each weekday section also has its own suggested prayer list for you to journal.  It is modeled after the excellent 2959 Plan.

The Table of Contents Reveals the Weekly Organization of the Book

DEDICATION

Welcome To Your Daily Prayer Journal

You Might Prefer The Printed Version

Introductory Section

Five Purposes of the Church and Believers

“QUICKSTART TO SPIRITUAL HEALTH”

Our Core Values

A Daily Checklist

The Four (or Five) ACTS of Prayer

ACTS Daily Prayer Sheet

Praying The Model Prayer

Daily Requests Prayer Sheet 1

My Impact List

Sunday

The Significance of Sunday

Sunday Prayer List

Monday

The Attributes of God

Monday Prayer List

Tuesday

Names of God in the Bible

Tuesday Prayer List

Wednesday

The “I Am” Titles of Jesus

Wednesday Prayer List

Thursday

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

Thursday Prayer List

Friday

My New Identity in Christ

Friday Prayer List

Saturday

Genuine Personal Spiritual Growth

Saturday Prayer List

Pastor’s Prayer Partners

Bible Study

The Book of Books

What Kind of Book is the Bible?

Can We Really Understand the Bible?

Bible Study Methods

Bible Reading Plans

Start Taking Sermon Notes

Personal Evangelism

Praying the Scripture

Thank You

Click Here to go and leave a positive review.

Customize This Book for Your Own Church.

Suggested Reading

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

You Might Also Enjoy The Kindle Version

I think you will greatly enjoy the Kindle Version of the “Daily Prayer Journal.”  You can easily take it anywhere you take your Kindle or other mobile device.  While the printed version has the benefits of recording your own requests and insights, the Kindle version has the benefit of portability.  Since your “Daily Prayer Journal” is something that you will want to use on a daily basis you will want to keep it close to you to use for your devotions.  This way you will have access to it wherever you take your phone or tablet.

Look for the “Daily Prayer Journal” prayer book in the Kindle Store at Amazon.

A Customizable Prayer Book

Customize This Book in Printed Form for Your Own Church

If you are a Pastor or Ministry Leader and you would like to order the “Daily Prayer Journal” customized for your own church or ministry with your church name on the cover and a Preface by the Pastor, you can contact Dr. Carr through his website, www.HigherPurposeMinistries.com.

The Daily Prayer Journal is a simple and inexpensive tool to use to encourage your people in their daily devotions and motivate them to pray regularly for your ministry for the next year.

Your fellow pilgrim,

Dr. Kelly Carr

Click Here to Contact Dr. Carr about Customizing the Daily Prayer Journal for your own church or ministry.

Click Here to See The “Daily Prayer Journal” Kindle Version.

Click Here to See the “Daily Prayer Journal” Printed Version.  (Coming Soon)

Make the next 52 weeks of devotions count with your “Daily Prayer Journal.”  Your faith will grow as you track God’s work in your life.

~

The New Testament word, “hospitality” comes from a Greek word, “philozenia” which is made up from 2 words, “philos” which means loving, and “zenos” which means strangers.  So hospitality means to love strangers or to be loving or affectionate to strangers.

God Exhorts Us to Be Hospitable

Why is that important?  Well, the New Testament exhorts and instructs Christians to be hospitable, both to Christians and non-Christians.  By the way, how do we even know when we first meet someone if they are a Christian or not?  So, we are really obligated to be hospitable to all.  Romans 12:13 exhorts believers to be “practicing hospitality.”  The writer of Hebrews says “1Let love of the brethren continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”  (Hebrews 13:1-2).

Someone said that “Hospitality is one form of worship.”  Another said, “Hospitality should have no other nature than love.”

The issue is clear that God expects His children to be hospitable, just as He is hospitable.  Can you imagine going to Heaven and not feeling welcome?  I can’t.  It would not seem like Heaven.

Hospitality at Home

Well, it is getting near a time of year when we expect many “strangers” to come to our campus.  We want to show “hospitality,” or “love strangers” all of the time, but sometimes it is good to remind ourselves that our services and classes and facilities are not just for ourselves, but for other people that God loves, too.  Because He loves these “strangers” we are called to “love” them too.

Soon we will be doing training for those who serve at “Welcome Center” and in other parts of our “First Impression” ministries.  If you are not involved but would like to learn more be sure to attend that training time.

However, whether you serve as a Greeter, Usher, Teacher, Nursery worker, Children’s worker, Youth worker, shuttle driver, or whether you have any official title or not, Christ has personally called you to show hospitality to others.  If you have any question, just apply the Golden Rule.  “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.”

Your fellow pilgrim,

Bro. Kelly

PS  Looking for a way to be more consistent in your prayer journal?  Try the Daily Prayer Journal.

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