The Privilege of Prayer
By  Beth Moore, Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer

The privilege of prayer is the flagship proof that God created man to participate in His kingdom agenda and just not dangle from His fingers like a puppet.  That a sovereign God welcomes mere human beings to touch His heart and affect His work is nothing less than stunning. A fresh reread of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18 ought to leave us reeling with the privilege and responsibility of divine access. “What if there are fifty righteous people, Lord? Would You spare the city of the judgment it has earned?” “Or five less than fifty?” “What about forty people, Lord?” Thirty? Twenty? Ten?  

Scripture calls Abraham by one of the most intimate titles in Holy writ: “the friend of God.” The freedom such closeness had granted him is illustrated nowhere more remarkably than in Abraham’s intercession. He drew near to God the way He esteems most. Figuratively speaking, Abraham approached the Maker of Heaven and Earth balanced on two knees: one of humility (“though I am nothing but dust and ashes”) and one of boldness (“but let me speak just once more…”). Without both knees pressed firmly to the ground, the intercessor tumbles in the dust with the first harsh wind of worldly resistance. “The Judge of all the earth” will indeed do right. He cannot do otherwise. But He honors nothing more highly in all creation than a people who willingly align themselves with His agenda through the wonder of prayer. (read more)

Prayer for Our Writing and Speaking Ministries
By Mary E. DeMuth, Author & Speaker

Dear Jesus,

Please be with us all who struggle to write and speak words that honor You, make people ask enticing questions, and invigorate those who hurt. We are only as good as Your strength behind our pens/keyboards/mouths. I confess, Lord, that I’ve let the worry of the world collide with my spirit, allowing stress to be my mantra rather than praise. Convict us when we trust the Almighty dollar instead of Your deep, perfect, abiding provision. Lord, in a shifting publishing and speaking world, fear can tend to rule. Help us all to rest our worries at the foot of Your cross today, to truly believe You for contracts and contacts . (read more)

Moving Forward in Faith: Queen Esther, a Woman of Prayer and Passion
By Suellen Roberts, Women in Christian Media

This story is of an unlikely orphan who became ruler of Persia and delivered her people from certain death. God quite often chooses people that are the most unlikely for the job. The more unlikely you are the better you can be used because God can do the unexpected through you. Our availability and obedience to God and His direction in our lives is so important as leaders. 

Are you willing to be available to be positioned in the place that God has for you? Are you willing to be obedient and step out in faith to do that which He is calling you to do? It takes hearing from the Lord and the willingness on our part to put aside our own desires of what we think we should do and to step out in faith, trusting God to meet us and cover us. The result is doing what God wants us to do for His ultimate plan and purpose, something we don’t know when we take the first step. (read more)

Fighting Feelings of Inadequacy
By Karol Ladd, Positive Life Principles

When was the last time you felt like God was leading you to do something that would most certainly stretch your abilities and take you beyond your confidence level? Maybe you were pushed into circumstances for which you did not feel equipped or prepared, whether it was a new work assignment or big speaking opportunity or even counseling a friend in need.  How do we handle these feelings of “I just don’t think I can do this?”  First, it is good to know we are not alone in these feelings.  Not only have most of us in Christian media felt this way a time or two, but we can even find a fellow struggler in God’s Word.  In fact in the Old Testament  we find one of God’s most faithful men who was burdened with feelings of inadequacy.

The place is Mount Sinai. Moses drew close to a burning bush, and there he encountered a Holy God. God directed Moses to go back to Egypt, talk to Pharaoh, and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. What was Moses’ response? “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God reassuringly answered him, “I will be with you.” (read more)

The Danger of Chasing Relevance
By Phil Cooke, Cooke Pictures

Never have Christians pursued relevance more strenuously; never have Christians been more irrelevant. -- Os Guinness

Ask a typical pastor or ministry leader what they want to accomplish with their ministry, programs, or products, and chances are, you’ll hear the words “be relevant.” “Relevance” has become the hot buzzword today - especially in the Christian media world, and applies to church services, TV and radio programming, books, music, and outreaches of all kinds.  In this culture, everyone wants to be relevant.

I’ve spent my career helping the Church speak the language of the culture, and being contemporary and relevant is part of that equation. But in that process, I’ve discovered that most people work so hard to be relevant, they spin hopelessly into irrelevance. (read more)

Grace Abused
By Thelma Wells, A Woman of God Ministries

"World fame is but a breath of wind that blows now this way, and now that and changes name as it changes direction."  -Dante

As a little girl in the '30s and '40s in Dallas, I lived in a very religious community.  Everybody knew I was a Christian.

As I grew older, I discovered there were a lot of denominations that differed from mine.  With me, it was OK, we all served the same God.

There was one group whose women wore long white dresses similar to choir robes; white covers on their heads that looked like short, flat, white  sheets; white shoes; and no make-up. (read more)

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall... Is That Really Me At All? By Tracey Mitchell, Tracey Mitchell Ministries

Have you ever walked passed a mirror only to gasp at the sight of the image staring back at you?  Is that really what I look like? Is that how others see me? How did I end up like this?

I’m sure, if David could have seen how he looked living in the desert, his reaction would have been equally as alarming. After all, he had been left alone in a cold, damp cave, living like a fugitive, on the run for crimes he had not even committed.  He was isolated from his family, disenfranchised from his calling and falsely accused by his mentor.  His image was anything but good. (read more)

President's Pick By Suellen Roberts

The Power of a Positive Woman
By Karol Ladd

Do you want to be a positive woman of powerful influence? Do you want to make a lasting impression on the lives of the people around you? You can become a positive woman -- no matter where you find yourself right now -- simply by choosing to allow God's power and strength to pour through you.

This life-changing book explores seven principles that can help you become a powerful force in your family, your church, your community, and your world. Through biblical teaching, inspirational quotes, and true stories of women just like you, you will learn to incorporate your life as you have a powerful impact on those around you.

When I first saw this book I immediately thought, “Oh no, not another self help book on creating your own positive attitude.” After reading The Power of a Positive Woman my opinion quickly changed. Karol Ladd has clearly laid out principals that are biblically correct. God divinely empowers us to be His women. We as leaders can glean much from her teaching on becoming a Woman of Faith, a Woman of Wisdom, a Woman of Prayer,a Woman of Joy, A Woman of Love, A Woman of Courage, and a Woman of Hope.
Every woman -- including you -- has the potential to become a positive, powerful influence in her world. Never underestimate the power of a positive woman. That woman can be you!

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Around the Globe:

From the Field: Female Africa Director traveling in Islamic Nations

Gaza Conflict Produces Riots and Unrest Throughout the Muslim World

I have just come from visiting indigenous underground missionaries in 2 Islamic nations.  I will not name them or myself for security reasons.  In both countries, soldiers and police were stationed at every intersection in both large and small cities with frequent police checkpoints in between.  All had military rifles in hand, not holstered.

In one country, I could not leave my room except VERY quickly and secretly to leap into a car with darkened windows. 

The tension is a result of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.  Irate headlines filled the papers, and angry rhetoric blasted from every tv and radio.  Enraged mobs materialized to express hatred against Israel and the US. (read more)

Maralee Dawn in Thailand Maralee Dawn, Maralee Dawn Ministries & WCM International Director

Thailand... gives me a new perspective of global poverty and International crisis, and the power of our God to save souls. I'm reminded that the bottom line, we are just passing through this life, and one day , perhaps sooner than we think, it will all be history and we will be with our King. It's true... 'life isn't fair" ! Picture this...a prison filled with precious people men, women and children who are desperate...and many who are the incarcerated innocent. Some are illegal immigrants, fugitives that are running from their home land, at the cost of abandoning the familiar, leaving their family and life friends in the desperate pursuit of safety and freedom (some arrived here over 20 years ago, so I am told). (read more)

Money Talk with God

By Brenda Mahon

Proverbs gives us practical advice and God’s financial strategies for taking care of the people and things that matter most in our lives.  These are the pearls of wisdom that can help you connect your hopes for the future with practical action steps for today.  Regardless of the economic crisis and financial turmoil in the world today or in the future, you can stay on God’s course if you follow His advice about money.

Be Generous in Giving – Proverbs 11:24-25

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.   A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (read more)

Meeting Planning Made Easy

We listened to meeting and event planners, industry service providers and attendees to learn what they feel are the essential ingredients of a great meeting. We culled past issues of Practical Guide to Event Planning (now Plan Your Meetings) and other resources. And we distilled all this information to bring you the basics of meeting planning, a guide you can refer to (and expand on).

As the industry has grown, so has the amount of information available; books, magazines and online sites provide extensive, and often exhausting, details. Software, print forms and plenty of advice can be had to help you mastermind even the most complex event. All that information can be overwhelming (and, we found, often repetitive). Our guide is designed to help you easily navigate the steps leading to a great meeting. (read more)

Barna Study: Social Networking, Online Entertainment and Church Podcasts Social Networking, Online Entertainment and Church Podcasts

When the Internet clicked into the public consciousness more than a decade ago, experts debated its usefulness and staying power. Now, few would argue that mobile devices and online technology have become deeply embedded in society. Millions of Americans have become dependent upon the new digital conveniences that provide them with entertainment, information, products, and content. The impact of these technologies on interpersonal relationships - a domain often called social networking - has begun to rewire the way people meet, express themselves, and stay connected.

A new study from The Barna Group explores social networking as well as how Americans use digital technology to get the products, services, and content they desire. The research identifies the mainstream - as well as emerging - platforms and practices. Additionally, the Barna study also examines how the Christian community engages with such technologies, including the use of church podcasts. (read more)

Barna Study: Survey Describes the Spiritual Gifts That Christians Say They Have

The Bible teaches that all followers of Christ are given supernatural abilities by God to serve Him better, known as spiritual gifts. Two-thirds of Americans (68%) who say they are Christian noted they have heard of spiritual gifts, according to a national survey by The Barna Group. That represents a small decline from past surveys, which found 72% awareness in 2000, and 71% in 1995.

Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%), and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%). (read more)

Barna Study: Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist

A new nationwide survey of adults’ spiritual beliefs, conducted by The Barna Group, suggests that Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent.

The survey explored beliefs about spiritual beings, the influence of faith on their life, views of the Bible, and reactions to faiths other than their own.

Views on Spiritual Beings

The Barna survey asked questions about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan, and demons.

All 1,871 self-described Christians were asked about their perception of God. In total, three-quarters (78%) said he is the “all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe who rules the world today.” The remaining one-quarter chose other descriptions of God – depictions that are not consistent with biblical teaching (e.g., everyone is god, god refers to the realization of human potential, etc.). (read more)