Prayz Network

Jesus gave his life so we could be free from sin. The soldier lays down his life so we can be free from tyranny.

As I reflect on the blessing of living in a free country, a country where I can openly express and share my faith, I am deeply humbled. As a civilian in this country, I can only begin to imagine what it would be like to go to war; to be willing to give my life in a battle to defend not just my own freedom or that of my family, but the freedom of strangers.

A few years ago, I met an elderly gentleman that served in World War Two. I wished him a Happy Veteran’s Day. With tears in his eyes, all these years later, he shared his experience of leading his men in the battle at Iwo Jima. He recounted the horrific loss of young lives that day. He lived to return home to his young wife and child, but he also brought home the memories of an experience that few of us will ever have to endure. He said, “I am 94 years old, and there’s still not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the young men that died that day.” As I hugged the former soldier and thanked him for his service, it struck me just how much he, and so many others before and after him, paid on my behalf. Payment that extended beyond a tour of duty to a lifetime.

I thank God for all our service men and women who have served and are currently serving in our military; I pray God will bless them richly for answering a call that requires extraordinary courage and bravery. ~Lisa

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Rom 5:7-8

When you find yourself reliving past mistakes that shame or paralyze you; when friends or family would have you believe what you were is what you always will be; when you find yourself tempted to go back to old habits, old thought patterns, or destructive behaviors, remember this: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12. We have been redeemed and made new through our faith in Jesus!

Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You’ve cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
I know You’ve washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I’m not holding on to You, but You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me
Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other ~from Casting Crowns’ song East to West

You know how you’ll have that niggling– that still small voice— nudging you about something that you allow in your life, consciously or unconsciously, and then you open His word and it opens to the very passage that deals with what you’ve been kind of ignoring? Yeah, it was that kind of morning for me.

I try to be kind and encouraging at all times, I really do, but I fall short regularly. And it’s not just what comes out of my mouth, or my actions, but what I don’t say or don’t do that can be just as harmful.

I struggle with being a people-pleaser, and I will allow people to “vent” about other people. I would mostly just listen, and I would feel kind of righteous for not actually adding anything to the conversation. But there was that little voice putting a damper on my self-righteousness. Just because I wasn’t adding anything to the conversation, wasn’t my silence giving assent and encouragement to the speaker? This had been rolling around the periphery of my thoughts, but I mostly ignored it until the next occurrence, and then the voice got a little louder.

A few days ago my husband and I were hanging out with a new believer. He was sharing some gossip and I found myself not only allowing it to continue, but showing interest and thereby encouraging him to continue. My husband stepped in, graciously saying, ‘we don’t know the whole story’ and redirecting the conversation to something more productive, which made me realize the destructive and unhealthy path we were on. I felt terrible and immediately breathed a prayer asking for forgiveness. Not only could that have been destructive to the person who was the subject of the conversation, but to the new believer’s walk, and mine!

To drive the point home, this morning I opened my bible to this passage in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 29 through 32 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

I thank God for not giving up on me, and continuously, patiently, guiding me back to His path, giving me His word and showing me His nature. I pray I will reflect Him in all I say and do. Or don’t say and don’t do.
–Lisa

“For thus says the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel:
‘In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’
But you would not,
and you said, “No, for we will flee…” Isaiah 30:15, 16a

Returning. Rest. Quietness. Confidence.

That’s God’s way, but will I follow or run the other way?

Given my nature, I’m more likely to run; try real hard; come up with a plan; work day & night; stress in mind-racing craziness; become overwhelmed & frustrated because I can’t make things happen my way in my time…. Anything but return. Anything but rest. Anything but quiet. Anything but trusting confidence.

God’s ways are peace. My ways are stress.
God’s ways are peace. My ways are striving.
God’s ways are peace. My ways are exhausting.
God’s ways are peace, but I would not.

Perhaps it is because I try so hard to do things my way, rather than God’s way, that I find myself tired, ineffective, discouraged in the battle. Perhaps it is time to do things His way:
Return to Him. Rest in Him. Quiet our busy minds before Him. Stand firm in confidence in Him.
Your comments are welcome….

“…the night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11,12

As winter gives way to spring, new life bursts forth from the barren earth. We sit and watch and wait and hope as bleak winter grays turn to vivid hues of spring green, iris purples, the bright reds of tulips and sunshiny daffodils. It’s regeneration-to revive; renew; recreate. As the earth awakens, it’s a reminder that the church, which is me…and all of us who believe, has been for the most part, in a winter season-cold, barren, unfruitful…hibernating in our warm, comfy pews. It is time for us to wake up….to spring forth with new life! The life and love of Christ bursting forth from within us bringing new life to the world around us. No doubt, the world seems darker than ever before, but in the bleak darkness, Christ shines all the brighter! Let us wake up and shake off the dead wood of winter-all the things that weigh us down and hold us back, and let the regeneration of Christ begin….to revive, renew, and recreate, and so much so, that the transformation is undeniable-making unbelievers doubt their unbelief! As buds and blossoms and new blades of grass are undeniable signs of spring and the life within, let the evidence of Christ living in us be even more so! Here’s to Regeneration of the world and of the church and of you and me!

It is something I’ve always wanted to do-something I always wanted my kids to do, but never thought I had the time or money to make it happen. I knew it would be life-changing for me, but I wondered if it would really make a difference for anyone else. In mid-January…my lifelong desire and questions were answered, as I went along on my son’s senior mission’s trip to Children’s Vision International in Bogota, Colombia. After the initial culture shock of landing in a country where everyone speaks a different language; where motorcycles, buses and mini taxi cabs act more like bumper cars on the crowded city streets; where sewage spills out onto the broken, trash-littered sidewalks below; don’t drink the water or flush toilet paper or ever walk alone…..when I saw beyond the broken infrastructure of south Bogota….I saw the immensity of the broken people who lived there. Faces forlorn and hopeless, faces young and old, faces hardened by years of despair, the dirty faces of children playing in trash – oblivious to the desperation all around them and to the bleak future awaiting them. The “street people,” explained Children’s Vision President, and Bangor, Wisconsin native, Jeanene Thicke, are called “desechables” or “disposables”-cast-offs, trash, throw-aways. Her mission for the past 20 years has been to rescue these street kids-to “change the destinies of the destitute.” Could we really do anything to help make a difference during our 11 day trip? Or would it just some kind of noble vacation? It didn’t take long for us to see how demanding-emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually-rescuing these street kids and giving them a loving home and education, as well as a chance at life was- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And it didn’t take long to see the contrast of happy, healthy, loved children inside CV to the brokenness outside. They are so consumed with trying to meet the day to day needs demands of transforming these precious lives, that extra things like painting the girls house and classrooms in the school, cleaning the skylights, baking special birthday cakes for each of the 100 children, sorting clothing donations and organizing school supplies and closets, just have to wait….wait for a team of volunteers like the Coulee Christian Seniors….to get those things done. A lot of work? Yes. Tiring? Yes. Rewarding? Yes. Life-changing? Yes. Not just for me, but for every one of us who went on the trip-and hopefully you were able to share the experience with us on Facebook and our daily reports. If not, be sure to stop by and check out more of the pictures at https://www.facebook.com/prayznetwork. Oh, and I’m still not sure how we raised all the support we needed for the trip….all I know is that with God, all things are possible! If you ever have the chance to take part in a short-term missions trip, I highly encourage you to go – your life will be forever changed.

I remember when our kids were toddlers and just learning to walk….we didn’t keep track of the number of times they fell, but applauded every attempt to try again; we didn’t scold them for their tears of frustration, but rather picked them up and encouraged them to get up and take another step. We didn’t berate them when they landed on the floor, and we didn’t tell them they’d never, ever get it right. We knew, if they kept on trying, one day they’d not only be walking across the room, but running through the yard, climbing hills and trees. We knew that one day they’d be walking into their kindergarten classroom on the first day of school…..across the stage in cap and gown….down the aisle on their wedding day….and it all began with that first step…and the perseverance to keep on even when they fell. How much more our heavenly Father picks us up when we fall. He encourages us to keep on knowing that, if we don’t give up, one day we will walk….and He has prepared the path that lies ahead. Let us not become weary and discouraged by our many failed attempts to walk the walk….rather, let us keep on……get up and try again and focus on the prize before us. Happy New Year from your Prayz Family!

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry,
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners,
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down…..”
Psalm 146:5-8

I hope you find time to meditate on Him this Christmas-the Almighty God, our Creator, Redeemer, and loving Heavenly Father. May He be your all in all this Christmas and throughout the coming year. He loves you. He knows your every need. He watches over you, and is more than able to accomplish His purpose in and through your life and family. Trust Him & be “happy!” Merry Christmas! Love, darla

Christmas….as the years go by “Christmas” seems to change…from the wide-eyed excitement of childhood to the joy and busyness of making Christmas special for our own families.  Then there comes a time when “Christmas” magnifies the missing pieces in our lives…the loss of loved ones, broken relationships and the long ago and far away memories of Christmases gone by – knowing things will never be the same.  But, it’s the HOPE of Christmas that will get us through each season….. The eternal hope behind the Christmas carols, the decorations and gifts of love.  The hope that gives meaning and purpose to it all.  The hope that there is so much more than this life can bring or throw at us.  With many Christmases behind me, all the things that once seemed such a vital part of Christmas – the shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, and the hurrying here and there – seem far less important.  With so many of those with whom I once shared Christmas gone, my heart has turned more and more toward that heavenly hope –  Jesus.  Yes, there is the sting of  loss, but there is also a deep, deep joy, and a peace that transcends the pain.  There is also an urgency to share the real HOPE of Christmas with those who are walking in darkness – without the HOPE of Christ.  Whatever your Christmas brings this year, I pray you will experience that deep, eternal, unchanging HOPE. ~Darla

And if you need prayer to help get you through this season, please share your requests with us on the Ministry Page, and we will be sure to lift you up in prayer.

Persecution: 1.the subjecting of a race or group of people to cruel or unfair treatment, e.g. because of their religious beliefs
Synonyms: harassment, oppression, maltreatment, pursuit, torture, discrimination, torment, tyranny, intimidation

“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” – Jesus, John 16:33

I’m too tired to get up for church. It’s been a long week…. I really need to sleep in. Missed my Bible reading today…I’ll catch up later. Pray? No time right now, but I’m sure God understands. I really should stop by and see my neighbor who lost his wife…just as soon as I get time. I know my co-worker is going through a difficult time and is feeling hopeless. I really should share Jesus with her……soon. That guy is so annoying! Why do I keep running into him? Maybe God wants me to help him out? But, he is such a pain, and I’m too busy.

What if saying I was a “Christian” meant I’d be mercilessly beaten?
What if being found reading my Bible meant the torture of my children?
What if going to church meant facing the end of a machine gun?
What if sharing Jesus sent me to a filthy prison cell?
What if my Christianity cost me everything, would I be willing to give my all?